Chambers go local

Local government solicitors in the south London borough of Croydon have embarked on an unusual working arrangement with barristers, after the council invited chambers to bid for membership of a panel providing advocacy and advisory services.

The seven-strong panel was selected from 54 applicants, and will take on cases in the areas of community care and children, mental health, planning, property, education and local government and administrative law.

The chosen chambers are: 39 Essex Street; 2 Garden Court; 22 Old Buildings; Renaissance Chambers; 2 Mitre Court; 2-3 Grays Inn; and 14 Grays Inn.

They will serve on the panel for three years, followed by an option to renew for a further two.

Jane Thompson, Croydon's head of legal, said the creation of the panel was aimed at providing the best possible legal services at maximum value.

'By embarking upon a tendering exercise and agreeing a panel of chambers, we have been able to enter into formal arrangements with well-regarded chambers for the provision of services at pre-agreed rates,' she explained.

Stephen Rickitt, chairman of the Law Society's local government group, said: 'A lot of local authority legal departments will be interested in the process undertaken by Croydon,' he added.

'There is always pressure to achieve high quality legal service at costs which are affordable.'

Paula Rohan