Legal Panel for Government
Framework Description
Legal Panel for Government (RM6360) is a framework, closed to new applications, run by the Government Commercial Agency (GCA, formerly Crown Commercial Service) with the Government Legal Department (GLD). It is the default route for central government departments and their executive agencies to buy external legal services, covering over 60 specialisms across seven lots. It replaced RM6179 Legal Services, RM6204 Rail Legal Services and RM6183 Trade Law Panel, and runs from 30 September 2025 to 29 September 2028.
Context & Use Case
Central government departments and executive agencies use the panel for routine legal work, major projects, high-risk and innovative matters, international trade and investment negotiations and disputes, and rail law. It was developed with GLD, the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Transport. Call-offs can be any value or length, by further competition or direct award.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Core legal services, such as contracts, employment, procurement and real estate Lot 2: Major projects and complex advice Lot 3: Finance and high risk or innovation, including restructuring and insolvency Lots 4a–4c: Trade and investment negotiations; international trade disputes; international investment disputes Lot 5: Rail legal services, including rail regulation Public inquiries and inquests work
Lots
Lot 1: Core Legal Services; Lot 2: Major Projects and Complex Advice; Lot 3: Finance and High Risk / Innovation; Lot 4a: Trade and Investment Negotiations; Lot 4b: International Trade Disputes; Lot 4c: International Investment Disputes; Lot 5: Rail Legal Services
Who Can Apply
The panel of law firms is fixed until RM6360 is re-procured, so firms not appointed cannot join before 29 September 2028. It suits firms with central government, trade or rail expertise. Firms serving the wider public sector should look at the separate Legal Panel for Public Sector.
Buyer Benefits
Departments get one default route to over 60 legal specialisms, from routine contracts and employment work to trade disputes and rail regulation. Call-offs can be any value or length, by further competition or direct award, so urgent advice and long programmes are both covered. Developing the panel with GLD keeps it aligned with government legal needs.
Next Steps
Appointed firms should prepare for further competitions and direct awards from departments, keeping matter case studies and rate cards ready. Other firms should monitor the GCA page (https://www.gca.gov.uk/agreements/RM6360) and the legal services pipeline, and build central government experience ahead of the re-procurement before September 2028.
How Athena Can Help
For firms on RM6360, Athena's legal call-off bid support builds win themes around specialist expertise and value-added offers, compares you with rival panel firms and checks pricing against discount commitments.
Firms aiming for the next panel can use a bid audit of past government legal awards and our law firm framework planning to target the right lot early. Our government tender expertise keeps responses compliant with the Procurement Act 2023.
