Multi-disciplinary legal support, when you need it, and all within a fixed budget.
Our clients told us that they needed a flexible and cost-effective means of calling upon legal support from lawyers across a wide range of disciplines and at all levels of seniority. In response, we developed our flexible Resource Pool.
The Resource Pool is made up of a dedicated group of lawyers across a range of disciplines and at all levels, all of whom know and understand the particular client's business. It provides legal resource as required, all within a fixed budget.
Benefits of using Resource Pool
Resource available when you need it
Support is always available even when demand is very high, without increasing the budgeted monthly fee.
Highly cost effective
The monthly fee offers a deep discount compared with standard hourly rates.
Wide range of seniority
With access to lawyers from paralegals to senior partners, you can be assured that work will always be done at the most appropriate level.
Across disciplines
The Resource Pool gives access to a broad range of disciplines to be called upon as and when required.
Efficient
The Resource Pool lawyers will be familiar with your working practices and business, without the need for detailed explanation or briefing.
Agile management
The innovative capture and analysis of Resource Pool usage enables trends to be identified and actions taken to increase efficiency.
UK based
The Resource Pool deploys lawyers from within Shoosmiths LLP's offices in the UK, avoiding any concerns associated with offshoring.
| Resource Pool | Flexible Secondment | ‘Traditional’ Secondment | |
| Expertise | Multidisciplinary expertise at any level of seniority that can be selected on a case by case basis all within the overall budget. | Multidisciplinary expertise at any size of team and any level of seniority that can be set at the outset of the arrangement. | Limited to the experience of the individual. |
| Location | UK based team which can be deployed remotely or on site. |
UK based team which can be deployed remotely or on site. |
Agreed with the individual an generally can be deployed remotely or on site. |
| Duration | 3 months – multiple years |
3 months – multiple years | Generally limited to 6 – 12 months |
| Knowledge Capture |
Business knowledge vests in the team and where relevant on Live Working so the team can be expanded or reduced over time with no material loss |
Business knowledge vests in the team and where relevant on Live Working so the team can be expanded or reduced over time with no material loss | Knowledge typically vests in the individual and will be largely lost on their secondment ending. |
| Budget | Overall fixed budget |
Overall fixed budget | Daily rate |
| Charging Mechanism | Charged monthly based on resource used in the period (staying within the overall fixed budget). If any anticipated time is not used. It is not charged. |
Charged monthly based on resource used in the period (staying within the overall fixed budget). If any anticipated time is not used. It is not charged. |
Daily rate typically charged weekly or monthly. This is generally charged as a flat fee regardless of output on any given day. |
| Team Composition |
A key contact will be assigned but the team will change to adapt to your requirements each month. |
A dedicated team will be identified each of whom will be allocated an appropriate share of the overall hours to be drawn upon over the agreed period. |
Fixed secondee available on agreed days. |
| Discount to Standard Rates |
Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Work Tracking/ Reporting |
We provide a detailed breakdown of matters and resource burn rate at intervals agreed with you (typically ranging from weekly to quarterly) including an analysis of the level of seniority being utilised. |
We provide a detailed breakdown of matter progress and resource burn rate as against the various team members at intervals agreed with you (typically ranging from weekly to quarterly). |
Generally agreed with the secondee. |
| Daily/ Weekly caps |
No | No | Typically capped at work between agreed hours on agreed days. |
