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7 Bedford Row to go down LDP route

26 April 2010 | By Katy Dowell

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Civil and criminal set 7 Bedford Row (7BR) is mooting plans to employ lawyers and paralegals as part of a legal disciplinary partnership (LDP) following the ­implementation of the Legal Services Act (LSA).

Simeon Maskrey QC, who was elected as chambers head after his predecessor Kate Thirlwall QC quit to join the bench, said the set was examining methods of being more cost-efficient.

“We’re looking very carefully at what the customer needs, and that is block contracts,” he said. “Under the current structure it’s more difficult to provide that.”

Maskrey said members of 7BR had shown universal support for plans to overhaul the set’s structure in the post-LSA environment.

One option being ­considered is whether to employ full-time support lawyers or paralegals to assist members.

“Under the traditional structure the barrister does all the work,’ said Maskrey. “This would be more cost-effective.”

Setting up a chambers-wide LDP would better enable the set to provide block contracts to local authority clients or the CPS, he added.

In February Outer ­Temple Chambers unveiled plans to establish an ­international procurement company to capture ­international work (The Lawyer, 22 February).

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Readers' comments (4)

  • Michael Robinson | 27-Apr-2010 0:10 am

    Panic usually leads to decisions which time proves to be ill-judged.

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  • Ben Knight | 27-Apr-2010 10:49 am

    Is there not a danger here that, in setting up one stop shops and engaging in block tendering (whether it's solicitors with HCAs or counsel with the degradingly titled support lawyers) is creating a public defence service on the cheap?
    We take the risk and don't even get the pensions on offer to the bona fide civil service.
    I agree with Michael. Panic makes bad decisions.

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  • Anonymous | 27-Apr-2010 8:28 pm

    I cannot criticise 7 Bedford Row for wanting to modernise their legal services. What I am surprised at though is the use of the word "customer", especially from a Q.C. In response to my comment can someone briefly compare and contrast the meanings of "customer" and "client". I am starting to wonder if I know the difference.

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  • Anonymous | 29-Apr-2010 2:16 pm

    What is the difference? Perhaps if lawyers and barristers starting treating their clients more like customers then legal service users would get a better deal.
    This is pure snobbish semantics!
    Well done 7BR, it is good to see there are sets unafraid of modernising!

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