Pinsent Masons to launch 'next generation' flexible resourcing business

Vario will be a hub of freelance legal professionals available to undertake a wide variety of assignments from fixed-term projects to maternity cover. It will provide clients with high quality, flexible lawyers to help address resource, cost and skills issues which often affect busy in house teams.

Vario's clients will be able to quickly access lawyers from paralegal to partner-level, enabling them to scale-up or down resource in line with demand. 

Alison Bond, the partner leading Vario, says:

"Clients are increasingly asking for access to flexible resources as a pre-requisite. However, we wanted to take the idea a step further and launch the next generation of this type of service.

"Our market testing with general counsel indicated that when they are looking to plug a gap, personal attributes are as important as legal skills. They want lawyers who will add value quickly, get on with those around them and work with minimal supervision.  So we've spent a lot of time designing a bespoke selection process which helps candidates understand whether this is right for them, as well as whether they are right for us.  We will actively manage assignments, staying close to clients and the lawyers themselves".

"New generations of lawyers with different values and aspirations are coming through and Vario recognises that one size does not fit all. There are many hugely talented and energetic people out there who want to combine a high-status legal career with a greater degree of variety or other lifestyle options. Vario will help them do this."

David Ryan, Managing Partner of Pinsent Masons, says:

"The legal market is changing and we are committed to changing with it. We know that our clients often face periods of high demand and value the ability to ramp-up resource for a specific purpose, often at short notice and for a defined period of time. By launching Vario we aim to marry client demand for lawyers who meet Pinsent Masons' high professional standards with the aspirations of lawyers for a stimulating but more flexible career."

Vario – which means 'indicating variety or difference' – is currently recruiting from across the Pinsent Masons alumni network and wider legal market for lawyers at all levels of seniority. Interested parties can visit www.pinsentmasons.com/solutions/vario for further information.