Connect2Law
Connect2Law is a referral and support network which helps local law firms work together for the benefit of their clients whilst at the same time providing a wide range of benefits to its members.
Based on an established model* IBB operates as the ‘hub’ firm for West London, Thames Valley, Hertfordshire and parts of Surrey.
The network is divided into two key elements, Referral and Support.
Referral
At its core, Connect2Law is a referral network aimed at helping Member Firms retain their clients. It looks at what happens when a client approaches a firm and asks them to do work that is either:
- not within their speciality
- beyond the firms capacity at that point in time
- raises issues of conflict
- beyond the firms Professional Indemnity cover.
Traditionally firms would either have to ‘dabble’ in work not familiar to them or refer the work to a competitor and risk losing that client for good.
By being part of Connect2Law the firm has a third option and that is to refer the client to a full-service regional law firm which will:
- operate with a clear ‘non-poaching’ agreement
- provide a fee-share on completion of the work referred.
By using this model of referring work Member Firms aid their client retention as they:
- never again have to turn away work
- can provide a full spectrum of services to their clients.
Support
Connect2Law offers its members a number of benefits that allow firms to increase their cost-efficiency by helping to significantly reduce overheads. These benefits include:
- free CPD courses provided by IBB locally to help reduce training overheads and time spent away from the office. For the latest Connect2Law events, please see the Events section of the IBB website.
- membership of a legal buying group - CostController which has been designed specifically for Connect2Law Member Firms. Through the power of bulk purchasing CostController can save members in the region of 20% on core overheads in areas such as utilities, IT, stationary, insurance and a great deal more. This service is once again free to Connect2Law members
- access to lawyers in the same fields as members to discuss cases and bounce ideas off - this is called the ‘extra-corridor’.
The benefits to Member Firm’s clients include:
- ease of access, through the offices of their local and trusted law firm - i.e. the Member Firm — to an extremely wide range of legal services
- ability to maintain their relationship with their existing lawyer who knows their affairs inside and out
Connect2Law is free to join and free to leave with no membership fee. There are no obligations, tie-ins or notice periods and the network operates with a clear ‘non-poaching’ agreement.
* Connect2Law was originally established by Pannone’s LLP in Manchester in 2001 and now includes 7 other ‘hub’ firms across the UK.
