First Law

In-House Lawyers Ask Firms To Give Out Precedents

Law Society Gazette - Thursday 2nd October 2003

Note: Anthony Armitage is First Law's director and founder

Law firms are being encouraged to give up their precedents to in-house lawyers under a pilot initiative launched by the London branch of the Law Society’s Commerce & Industry (C&I) Group.

Branch chairman Anthony Armitage is currently negotiating with law firms to create a central database of precedents for banking, regulatory, property and other work, which will be made available free of charge to in-house lawyers.

City firm Nicholson Graham & Jones and Watford practice Matthew Arnold & Baldwin have already agreed in principle to hand over precedents, while City giant DLA is currently in talks over doing so.

‘There is very significant demand among London in-house lawyers for a precedent database’, said Mr Armitage. ‘Law firms have traditionally been very protective of their precedents. But the value that a law firm adds is not really in the precedent, but in how it is used and the advice that goes around it.

‘If a law firm is confident in its skills and specialism, it will still be able to add that value. The response from law firms has so far been positive.’

The scheme is currently in the initial stages of development, but should ultimately create a comprehensive database of loan documents, sale contracts, lease agreements, surrender documents and more.

Only one example of each type of document will be available on the database. The law firm which provides it will keep its own branding on the document and be responsible for keeping it up to date.

The scheme will initially be for London in-house lawyers only but if successful, it will be rolled out nationally next year.

Rachel Rothwell