External Legal Services Framework
Framework Description
The Scottish Social Services Council's External Legal Services Framework is a ranked multi-supplier framework for legal advice and representation, mainly on fitness to practise matters and also on wider regulatory and governance issues. At least two ranked firms are appointed, which helps the SSSC manage conflicts of interest and keep continuity of support. It runs until 11 June 2029, with an option to extend by 12 months.
Context & Use Case
The SSSC uses the framework when it needs external lawyers for fitness to practise investigations and hearings, appeals and judicial reviews, and advice on regulatory and administrative law. Ranking sets the order in which firms are instructed, with a second firm available where the first has a conflict of interest, which also keeps legal support continuous.
Scope of Services
Legal advice on fitness to practise matters Representation at fitness to practise hearings Appeals and judicial review advice Regulatory and administrative law guidance Information governance and compliance advice Equality impact assessment support Quality assurance checks
Lots
See framework link
Who Can Apply
It suits Scottish law firms with regulatory and fitness to practise experience, ideally in social services, and the capacity to run several matters at once. Applications are closed: firms were ranked at award, and others cannot join until the SSSC re-tenders it, likely around 11 June 2029, or a year later if extended.
Buyer Benefits
The SSSC can instruct specialist lawyers quickly on contested cases without running a procurement each time. Having a second ranked firm protects against conflicts of interest and capacity gaps, and keeps advice independent and consistent across hearings, appeals and judicial reviews.
Next Steps
Firms outside the framework should prepare for the re-tender before 11 June 2029, or June 2030 if the extension is used: build a record in professional regulation work, such as fitness to practise cases for other regulators, and document outcomes and quality assurance processes. Appointed firms should keep conflict checks and turnaround times tight.
How Athena Can Help
Regulatory legal panels are small and decided on specialist evidence. Ahead of the SSSC re-tender, Athena's panel application support helps law firms present fitness to practise experience and quality assurance in answers evaluators can score.
Our legal bid writing also covers other regulators' legal panels, with competitor analysis to show where your firm stands, and bid selection advice helps you prioritise among them so partner time goes to the panels you can win.
