Fri, 25 May 2012

The Co-operative Group plans to create 3,000 jobs in the legal sector through expansion of its Co-operative Legal Services (CLS) brand.

It announced at the start of the year that it was to hire 150 further staff into CLS, having become one of the first businesses to apply to become an Alternative Business Structure under the new Legal Services Act, as reported by recruiter.co.uk.

About 90% of the new jobs will be legal functions, and the rest support staff.

A company spokesperson tells Recruiter that providing opportunities for young people is a particular priority of CLS, through apprenticeships among other methods. It currently has two apprentices and will bring in five more this year.

The spokesperson also adds that the company is not concerned by the fact that it is not known as an employer of legal professionals, saying that the group as a whole “has a first class reputation as an employer offering attractive terms and conditions”.

The company will launch five additional regional hubs across England and Wales in the future, and a new family law operation in London later this year.

CLS was formed in 2006 and currently employs over around 450 staff.