Legal Services PA23
Framework Description
Legal Services PA23 is LUPC's (London Universities Purchasing Consortium) framework for external legal advice for member higher education institutions and public sector organisations, procured under the Procurement Act 2023. Full-service law firms are grouped into three lots by hourly rate band, from under £200 an hour to over £250. It runs until 5 October 2028 with no extension. This framework is used by NWUPC and SUPC.
Context & Use Case
University legal and governance teams use it to instruct outside solicitors when a matter goes beyond in-house capacity or expertise, drawing on the breadth a full-service firm offers. Splitting firms by rate band lets a buyer match the complexity and value of each matter to an appropriate price point, from routine work to high-stakes advice.
Scope of Services
Lot 1A: Group A full-service law firms (under £200 per hour) Lot 1B: Group B full-service law firms (£200 to £250 per hour) Lot 1C: Group C full-service law firms (over £250 per hour)
Lots
Lot 1A - Group A Full-Service Law Firms (< GBP200/hour); Lot 1B - Group B Full-Service Law Firms (GBP200-GBP250/hour); Lot 1C - Group C Full-Service Law Firms (> GBP250/hour)
Who Can Apply
It suits full-service law firms with higher education or public sector clients, positioned in one of the three rate bands. Applications for this framework are closed and it runs to 5 October 2028, so firms not appointed cannot join until it is re-tendered. Appointed firms win instructions within their lot.
Buyer Benefits
Rate bands give buyers price certainty before they instruct, and let them choose a lower-cost firm for routine work or a premium firm for complex matters. Appointed firms have already been assessed on quality and sector experience, and procurement under the 2023 Act gives members a current, compliant basis for instructions running into late 2028.
Next Steps
Appointed firms should build relationships with university general counsel and governance teams, and prepare reusable credentials, team CVs and fee proposals for instructions. Firms that missed out should review the lot structure on the consortia framework pages, decide which rate band they would compete in, and build higher education matter experience ahead of the re-tender before 5 October 2028.
How Athena Can Help
With the framework running to 5 October 2028, appointed firms have time to win instructions across the term. Athena's proposal and fee support helps you present matter experience, team and fees persuasively whenever members invite proposals.
Firms outside the framework should use the term to prepare. Our framework pipeline for law firms identifies other legal services frameworks open now or opening soon, and our compliant public sector bids service makes sure your next submission meets the rules and handles social value well.
