In-house team seeks buyersLambeth Borough Council's in-house employment law team has begun marketing its services to other local authorities and local government bodies.The team of two lawyers and a trainee, led by ex-City solicitor Alison McKane, has sent brochures prepared by an external consultant to other government legal teams.

A number of local authorities and a health authority have so far expressed interest in using the service.Ms McKane said the initiative should appeal to public departments with no dedicated employment law expertise, departments where members of staff are sick, and those which are inundated with too much work.

Price quotations - described by Ms McKane as 'very competitive' - will be given on application.Gerard Curran, who controls the Lambeth's legal department, said: 'As part of the government's best value initiative, we have a duty to constantly review our services to ensure that the council provides a competitive quality.'Roger Bowden, chairman of the Law Society's Local Government Group, said: 'The best value initiative is seen by many practitioners as a spur to look for further opportunities for mutual assistance, and make the best use of the skills, experience and expertise of local authorities' in-house teams.'Since November last year, Lambeth council's legal department has been Lexcel and ISO 900 accredited.Jeremy Fleming