The Co-operative Legal Services (Co-op LS) is to recruit a further 3,000 people to its legal team, creating the largest consumer law business in the UK.
It currently employs about 450 legally-trained and support staff at its Bristol base.
Group chief executive, Peter Marks, says Co-op LS is due to launch a family law business in London later this year, and will open five additional regional hubs across England and Wales over the next five years.
He says the group will extend its trial of legal and funeral-planning services in 30 selected branches of The Co-operative Bank and Britannia, to encompass all 330 high street branches.
Marks says: “When the new legal services legislation was drafted it was envisaged that it would enable a new range of businesses to enter the closed world of legal services. Over the next five years we want to fundamentally change the face of legal services and make access far easier.”
Co-op LS also announced the retirement of managing director Eddie Ryan. Eddie was part of the team that established the group in 2006.
Martyn Wates, deputy group chief executive, says “Eddie has done a fantastic job in leading and growing the team...I can attest to his tremendous commitment and determination to transform our legal services team.”
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