Pictured: Richard Dobson of Derby-based Beightons, Chris
Miller of Nelsons, Marie Walls of Nelsons, Tim Hastings of Nelsons
and Trevor Moore of Ibstock-based Trevor F Moore
Solicitors
Law firm Nelsons has hosted its first annual conference for law
firms across the region to address the changing strategic landscape
and opportunities available to practices now that the impact of the
Legal Services Act is beginning to be felt.
The conference, which took place at the Best Western Premier Yew
Lodge Hotel in Kegworth, brought together the East Midlands'
members of the UK's leading legal referral and support network,
Connect2Law.
Nelsons' chief executive, Tim Hastings spoke on the challenges
and threats posed by the changing legal market, while managing
director Chris Miller focused on the regulatory regime and
alternative business structures.
Other guest speakers included Jane Biggs, managing director of
specialist legal recruitment firm Bygott Biggs, who looked at the
employment market, and how to find and retain staff. Susan Hallam
from Hallam Communications offered top marketing tips.
Marie Walls, business development director and head of
Connect2Law services at Nelsons, says: "Nelsons is the hub firm for
East Midlands region of Connect2Law, now the largest and most
successful legal referral network run by lawyers for
lawyers.
"More than 2,000 law firms across the UK and over 170 firms in
our hub region are already reaping the benefits of free membership.
We believe it is a model of how law firms can work together in the
future in an increasingly competitive market that is opening up to
businesses not traditionally associated with the law."
Benefits of Connect2Law includes free membership, written
non-poaching and fee sharing agreements, assistance with
Lexcel accreditation, discounted continuing professional
development courses and free in-house training, as well as access
to a wide range of consultancy services. Members also have access
to a buying group, CostController, which saves on average 20% on
core overheads for the purchase of paper to photocopiers and mobile
phones to utility bills.
Commenting on membership, Trevor Moore, of Ibstock-based Trevor
F Moore Solicitors says: "The Connect2Law referral scheme means
that I do not have to decline any client's business, or stray into
areas of law outside my comfort zone."
Emma Mitchell of Emery Johnson Solicitors in Leicester adds: "We
are a medium sized niche law practice specialising in family, care
and criminal law. We are delighted to be able to refer clients onto
Connect2Law, for work that we do not undertake as a practice. We
are safe in the knowledge that they will be passed to a similar
specialist practice with standards as high as our own."
For more information about Nelsons, please visit their website
here: www.nelsonslaw.co.uk