Openbrief for firms

Leeds law firm Lupton Fawcett has launched a business support and training division to educate existing clients and other law firms.

The enterprise, called Openbrief, will offer a range of IT, soft skills and legal training, and provide a service specially tailored to the needs of law firms.

Jilly Curteis, divisional head of Openbrief and with 20 years' experience in consultancy, approached Lupton with the idea.

She said: 'Most smaller law firms can't justify having training and consultancy services in-house and find external firms can offer too broad a service.

We obviously have the legal expertise to offer specialist training.'

'We also recognise that our existing client base can benefit in knowing developments in law and when they may need a lawyer,' she continued.

'We are talking to a number of clients currently about offering this as an add-on service to legal advice, as well as soft skills training or something more technical.'

Openbrief consists of two full-time consultancy experts and an administrator, with fee-earners lending their expertise to particular aspects of legal training.

'Most of the solicitors at Lupton Fawcett are fairly proficient at presenting and training,' said Ms Curteis.

'However, they will all undergo trainer training so everybody is up to speed.'

Andrew Towler