Legal Services
Framework Description
NEPO's Legal Services solution (NEPO513) is a nationally accessible framework giving public bodies external legal advice across ten areas of practice, from public and procurement law to property, employment and litigation. Eighteen providers are appointed in a single lot, and every provider offers all ten areas. It started on 5 June 2024 and runs to 5 June 2028, with no extension.
Context & Use Case
NEPO member and associate member authorities use it when in-house legal teams need extra capacity or specialist expertise, for example on major contracts and procurements, property and development schemes, employment matters or disputes. Buyers can direct award for speed or run a further competition, using the provider matrix to see each firm's disciplines and any additional requirements.
Scope of Services
Public law and data protection Contracts and procurement law Employment and HR Property, development and planning Competition law Banking and finance Partnerships and projects Litigation and disputes
Lots
Single lot
Who Can Apply
Suits law firms with established public sector practices that can advise across all ten practice areas. Applications for this framework are closed, so firms not appointed cannot join until it is re-tendered, likely around 5 June 2028.
Buyer Benefits
In-house legal teams need quick access to external expertise. NEPO513 gives them that without a lengthy procurement for each instruction, and tendered rates are fixed for the life of the framework, which helps them budget and control external legal spend. A deep bench of providers gives choice when conflicts or capacity rule a firm out.
Next Steps
Appointed firms should keep their entry in the provider matrix accurate and be ready for direct awards and further competitions. Other firms should plan for the re-tender ahead of June 2028: gather public sector matter examples, fee structures and social value commitments, and bear in mind that rates were fixed for the whole term, so model pricing over several years.
How Athena Can Help
Applications for this national legal framework are closed until 2028, so Athena helps law firms prepare early. Our legal panel research identifies the public sector legal panels open now or opening soon.
When NEPO re-tenders, our bid writing for law firms turns your matter examples and expertise into scored answers, and our rate-setting advice helps you set rates that win public sector work without undercutting your practice. A compliance check is part of the service.
