Yorkshire authorities to set up barristers panels worth up to £12m

The contracting authority for the procurement is Wakefield
 Council, which will also be purchasing on behalf of Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford, Leeds and City of York councils as well as the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The framework agreement for the delivery of advocacy and specialist legal services will be divided into the following lots:

• Lot 1: Human resources / Employment law;
• Lot 2: Housing law;
• Lot 3: Childcare law;
• Lot 4: Adult Social Services and Community Care law;
• Lot 5: Property, Planning and Highways law;
• Lot 6: Civil Litigation; and
• Lot 7: Public Law and Corporate Governance.

Wakefield anticipates that the framework period will commence in August/September 2015 and will be put in place for an initial term of three years with the option to extend beyond that initial terms for up to an additional one year. This extension will be at Wakefield’s discretion.

The time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 12 pm on 26 June 2015.

In June 2013 the WYLAW councils and York named 23 law firms to a legal advice framework.