Welcome to the Public Law Today/Local Government Lawyer Marketplace Portal.

Here you can find the full range of services that public law departments and lawyers need. For departments, this page provides a directory of specialist legal advisers - including local authority legal departments that provide external services - expert witnesses, consultants, training courses, technology providers and much else besides.

MARKET NEWS Jan 16, 2020 Wellbeing charity and universities launch online resource promoting mental wellbeing practices for legal professionals Jan 10, 2020 LGSS Law “on track to return to profit” after £1.2m loss in 2018/19, says Executive Director Jan 06, 2020 Lawyers in Local Government calls for nominations for 2020 Awards Nov 22, 2019 Local government legal work increases, recruitment squeezed but morale up, exclusive new research reveals Oct 24, 2019 Young People’s Legal Service at Warwickshire wins at Law Society Excellence Awards 2019 Sep 17, 2019 Regulatory structure for legal services "will struggle to meet demands placed on it": independent report	TENDERS AND INSTRUCTIONS Jan 16, 2020 Pharmacy regulator appoints law firm to £3m legal services contract Jan 15, 2020 Scottish housing association to appoint provider to £700k legal services contract Jan 13, 2020 Social landlord to procure £1.8m legal services framework Jan 13, 2020 Welsh utility appoints 10 law firms to £14m legal services framework Jan 08, 2020 Law firm advises borough council on £18.7m acquisition of long leasehold interest in leisure park Dec 31, 2019 Fire authority to appoint solicitors, barristers to £480k specialist legal services framework
PEOPLE Jan 16, 2020 Public sector focused barristers well represented in 2019 silk round Jan 13, 2020 Lord Reed sworn in as President of the Supreme Court Jan 08, 2020 Weightmans adds two partners to London office through lateral hires Dec 28, 2019 Treasury Solicitor receives KCB, government lawyers recognised in New Year’s Honours List 2020 Dec 19, 2019 Blackstone Chambers public law silk appointed High Court judge Dec 18, 2019 Shoosmiths boosts planning and environment team with partner hire	TECHNOLOGY Nov 12, 2019 Government awards £2m in funding for technology firm to support digital transformation of legal sector Oct 18, 2019 Technology provider Caselines hires ex-practice manager for shared legal service to develop UK business Oct 15, 2019 Bar regulator opts for CaseLines as part of new-look regulatory operations Jul 01, 2019 DPS Software revamps website to boost content for local government lawyers May 24, 2019 Caselines and Kent Law School kick off digital evidence education project Mar 07, 2019 Lord Chief Justice sets up advisory group for judiciary on Artificial Intelligence
COMMENT AND ANALYSIS Striking out in a new direction: Setting up an ABS What does it take to set up a legal services alternative business structure? Hilary Irving of North Yorkshire County Council outlines the risks and rewards. The Company Sec in local government As commercialisation grows, Azhar Ghose outlines the increasing importance of the Company Secretary role within local authorities and offers some tips on how it can be performed. One size does not fit all Offering a one-size-fits-all approach will inevitably undermine the relationships we have with our clients, writes Geoff Wild. Personal philosophies Chris Guy, a former local authority head of legal, sets out how he tried to overcome his weaknesses. Aiming for the top How should you go about securing the position of head of legal at a local authority? Chris Guy shares some thoughts. Understanding the objectives of clients What will make your clients relish the opportunity to work with you again: content or delivery? Geoff Wild considers the issues. Professionalism or mucking in? “Perception is reality, but it’s the clients' perceptions that we have to address, not our own” - Read Geoff Wild's latest blog. Ever decreasing circles Gwendoline Davies, Andrew Northage and Robert Starr analyse the latest case to further limit legal professional privilege. Service standards or service excellence? Service standards could have the effect of lowering expectations of excellence when we should be raising them instead, writes Geoff Wild. Brand values or independent thought? Does having a proper regard for ensuring the right degree of independence make you appear aloof, arrogant and uncaring? Geoff Wild reports. Challenge your perspectives … In the first in a series of articles, Geoff Wild considers how clients assess their lawyers. Better than ever Jayne Francis-Ward, head of EMLawShare, sets out the highlights from the legal services consortium's fifth conference. Helping to define the client With Lawyers in Local Government calling for clarification of who local authority solicitors can act for, Crispin Passmore sets out the Solicitors Regulation Authority's view. Selling your services Iain Miller deals with the question of what is permissible under the SRA's Handbook and the Legal Services Act 2007 for those local authorities looking to sell their services more widely. Lead or follow? The number of in-house counsel in the private sector has boomed as the general counsel role has grown in importance. Paul Cummins looks at the lessons for local government lawyers. Dancing with the devil? Tanya Corsie of Iken Business explains why you should be using technology to improve your service. Improving internal efficiency The LexisPSL Local Government team provide a checklist for a continuous improvement model in the context of contemplating the delivery of shared legal services. The shape of things to come Derek Bedlow looks at the implications of the Legal Department of the Future survey for how legal departments organise, recruit and retain their staff. A short guide to shared legal services The LexisPSL Local Government team explain the background to and advantages and disadvantages of shared legal services in achieving improved cost efficiency within the public sector. Can’t get no satisfaction? What effect have the cuts had on local government lawyers’ ambitions and morale? Derek Bedlow looks at the results of our exclusive survey of more than 300 local government lawyers and assesses the implications for local authority legal teams. Up for the challenge? With the local government sector under huge pressure, legal departments are being tested to the limit. Helen Edwards of Kennedy Cater analyses how they are responding.