Legal Services - WPS - 1164
Framework Description
YPO's Legal Services - WPS framework (1164) gives the wider public sector a compliant, cost-effective route to external legal advice. It has 13 lots, ranging from childcare law and litigation to major projects, plus training lots for the wider public sector and for YPO. Applications for this framework are closed, and it runs until 7 October 2028, with no extension available.
Context & Use Case
Local authorities, schools and other public bodies in England and Wales call off from 1164 when they need external lawyers, whether for care proceedings, property transactions, planning matters, employment disputes or governance advice. YPO describes it as a Department for Education approved framework aimed at cost savings and strong discount rates on external legal advice.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: Childcare law Lot 2: Adult social services and community care law Lot 3: General litigation Lot 4: General conveyancing and routine property Lot 5: General contracts, commercial and IT Lot 6: Planning, compulsory purchase, highways and environmental Lot 7: Major or complex projects Lot 8: Local government law and corporate governance Lot 9: Employment law and pensions Lot 10: Public health Lot 11: Commissioning and procurement training (WPS) Lot 12: Legal training (WPS) Lot 13: Commissioning and procurement training (YPO)
Lots
Lot 1 - Childcare Law; Lot 2 - Adult Social Services and Community Care Law; Lot 3 - General Litigation; Lot 4 - General Conveyancing / Routine Property; Lot 5 - General Contracts, Commercial and IT; Lot 6 - Planning, Compulsory Purchase, Highways and Environmental; Lot 7 - Major or Complex Projects; Lot 8 - Local Government Law and Corporate Governance; Lot 9 - Employment Law and Pensions; Lot 10 - Public Health; Lot 11 - Commissioning / Procurement Training - for WPS; Lot 12 - Legal Training - for WPS; Lot 13 - Commissioning / Procurement Training - for YPO
Who Can Apply
Law firms with public sector practices fit this framework, from specialist childcare and social care teams to firms handling major projects or pensions. Training providers fit Lots 11 to 13. Applications are closed, so firms not appointed cannot join before the re-tender, likely around 7 October 2028.
Buyer Benefits
Legal needs in local government often arrive at short notice, such as care proceedings or litigation, and in-house teams cannot cover everything. A panel appointed by specialism lets buyers instruct quickly, and thirteen separate lots mean they can go straight to firms with the right expertise rather than generalists.
Next Steps
Appointed firms should make sure councils know their lot coverage and be ready to answer call-offs with rates, team CVs and relevant case experience. Firms not on 1164 have until around October 2028; use that time to build local government references in the lots you would target and watch YPO's page (https://www.ypo.co.uk/frameworks-home/900668) for re-procurement news.
How Athena Can Help
Law firms on 1164 compete on rates and expertise at call-off. Athena's help with tender responses includes competitor scoring and pricing models, so you know where you stand before you submit.
Firms targeting the next round can use our framework positioning service to choose lots and prepare evidence well ahead of the 2028 re-tender, and our public sector bid planning to decide which local authority opportunities to pursue in the meantime.
