EM LawShare sees membership hit 150 organisations

The latest organisations to join the consortium include the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the Environment Agency and South Lakeland District Council.

When it was set up in 2006, the consortium had just 13 members. It now has members from “Durham in the north to Plymouth in the south, Herefordshire in the west to Suffolk in the east”. They include local councils, police and fire authorities, NHS trusts and universities.

EM LawShare’s panel of seven law firms comprises:

• Anthony Collins Solicitors
• Bevan Brittan
• Browne Jacobson
• Freeths
• Geldards
• Sharpe Pritchard
• Weightmans

Consortium members can also access free training courses, free telephone help lines and discounted online legal services.

Jayne Francis-Ward, Chair of EM LawShare, said: “To reach over 150-members is a massive achievement for EM LawShare. The rate of members joining is a clear indication of the importance of consortiums such as this, saving significant public expenditure.

“As budgets are squeezed at local level, we expect demand to rise further. This growth will allow our seven legal partners access to a regular pipeline of work in return for providing more financially viable legal support to our members.”

Anthea Lowe, Solicitor at South Lakeland District Council, said: “Having worked for other authorities which were members of EM LawShare, I was keen for my current authority to join the framework. The consortium’s offering, including the provision of legal services, training events and ad-hoc advice, represents significant value for money.”