Legal Services Framework

Description

Warwickshire Police has a requirement to establish a framework agreement of suitably qualified providers of legal advisory services. This shall operate as a framework agreement with multiple suppliers utilising both direct award and quote call off procedures where appropriate. All suppliers shall be on an equal standing and for direct awards selected according to the nature of the legal advice required. The intended scope of this procurement is a framework for use by Warwickshire Police, however as a contract option (to be confirmed by variation) the agreement may also be used by the Police & Crime Commissioner for Warwickshire. Warwickshire Police has its own in-house Legal Services Team. The team handles a wide range of operational advice across the breadth of police activity, and litigation and advocacy in the Magistrates Court, Crown Court, County Court, High Court, Family Courts, and Inquests. The in-house team manages all civil claims against the Force and all insurance matters, the team also deals with all police misconduct cases and some ad hoc HR matters where they overlap. Additionally, the in-house team advise on collaboration arrangements and wider multi-agency working arrangements including MoUs and data sharing. We currently have separate arrangements for other areas of work required by the Force where we outsource work in the following areas: • HR/employment law advice and all Employment Tribunal claims • All Property and Estates work • Commercial contracts and advice • Some advice on wider governance arrangements This tender falls within the scope of the Light Touch Regime of the Public Contracts Regulations. The contract shall be for an initial period of 3 years with an option to extend for up to a further 2 years.