Civil service union creates in-house post

THE CIVIL & Public Services Association is to set up an in-house legal department.

The union, which has 125,000 members, is in the process of hiring a lawyer to oversee its legal work.

According to union treasurer Keith Mills, two reasons dictated the move.

"You get a shorter line of contact if the person is in-house. It brings situations in as opposed to putting them out."

He says although cost-saving was a factor in the decision to set up an in-house capability, the main reason was "to improve the service to our members, specifically those who have legal problems".

The union has no preconceptions about how the service will develop because it will depend on the specialisations of the lawyer it chooses, he says.