About Claire
With a private practice background and more than a decade of experience working in an in-house environment, establishing and leading the legal team for a top 10, Russell Group University, Claire Turner has a clear insight into the needs of Higher Education clients, in-house teams and in-house lawyers.
Claire has procured and managed external legal panels, and has worked with a wide range of sector-leading specialists from Chambers and Legal 500 top-ranked law firms. She understands how the external advice needs of in-house lawyers differ from those of their non-legal colleagues and how crucial the relationship between external and in-house advisors can be in delivering effective and credible legal advice.
Claire served as a Committee member of the influential Association of University Legal Practitioners (AULP) and was chair of the Devon & Somerset Law Society In-House Lawyers Group (DASLS).
On the national legal stage, Claire’s team won the Halsbury Legal Award for In-house Team of the Year. She was interviewed by The Lawyer in 2013.
Support for law firms
Through her bespoke consultancy services for law firms and chambers Claire offers:
- Working with Universities Workshop
A briefing session for your firm covering:- Higher Education - background and context
- Universities as businesses
- Legal work for Universities
- Developing key contacts
- Working with the in-house team
- Top tips for tendering success
- Understanding In-House lawyers workshop
A briefing session for your firm covering:- Why do in-house lawyers exist?
- A different role - how in-house differs from private practice
- The value of external lawyers
- Panel appointments
- Building a lasting relationship
"I found it very interesting! Some good ideas came out of it." "..there were a few 'gems' in terms of client relationship management .." "All in all, worth every penny."
Feedback for workshop from Partners at a South-West Commercial Law firm.
- Strategic support and advice on working for and with the HE sector
This can be as broad or detailed as you require – for example, it could involve a review of your firm’s current HE sector knowledge and understanding of key legal, political and commercial issues, considering added value support, advising on cost/benefit analysis of different work types.
- Support for bids and tenders for HE sector work
Working with you to understand your firm’s key advantages to the HE sector, reviewing draft bids, checking sector specific terminology.
- Advice and support in building, developing and maintaining relationships with in-house teams and their internal clients
Working with you and, where appropriate, your clients to understand their service delivery needs, advising on differing approaches, obtaining repeat instructions and managing client expectations.
- Expert tailored legal support for client work on research, education and commercial contracts
Extensive experience of reviewing, drafting and negotiating a wide range of agreements common to the HE sector – eg Material Transfer, Studentships, Collaborations, Gifts, Work Placement, Student Exchange, Collaborative Provision, Consultancy. Also experienced in a wide range of commercial contracts.
Each package of work can be tailored to suit the individual requirements of your organisation, as and when support is required, on an hourly or day rate basis.
Support for universities
Through her bespoke consultancy services for universities and their in-house legal and contracts teams, Claire offers advice and support on:
- Setting up, reviewing or growing the legal or contracts team
For example, reviewing your institution’s current legal provision and working to establish your core requirements, where work could be best undertaken in-house and best out-sourced, advising on recruitment and retention of legal staff, assisting with JDs and interview panels, setting up policies and procedures.
- Establishing or reviewing a legal panel
Assisting your in-house team with designing a panel review or a new appointment process. Establishing key requirements, fee structures and KPIs.
- Getting the best from your legal panel
Building relationships, negotiating fee structures, managing client expectations, exploiting added value offers.
- Managing and developing strong relationships with internal clients
Working with the University in-house team and, where appropriate, their internal clients to understand their service delivery needs, advising on how to demonstrate value and managing client expectations.
- Short term cover or additional support (provided remotely)
Fixed term contract work to ‘fill a gap’, provide maternity/illness cover, or additional support to the in-house legal, contracts or governance team.
"Claire quickly became an integral member of the team; she added considerable value through her professional knowledge, insight and extensive experience of the higher education sector."
Neil Latham, Chief Operating Officer, Bath Spa University
- Staff mentoring and coaching
Helping support and develop new Heads of Legal or other team members.
Each package of work can be tailored to suit the individual requirements of your institution, as and when support is required, on an hourly or day rate basis.
Support for in-house teams
Through her bespoke consultancy services for existing in-house teams or organisations considering setting up an in-house team, Claire offers advice and support on:
- Setting up an in-house legal team workshop
A briefing for your business covering:- Pros and cons of in-house provision
- Deciding what you need
- Who to recruit - what makes a good in-house lawyer?
- Working with and managing external legal provision
- Marketing the in-house team
- Demonstrating the value of in-house
- Growing the team
- Establishing, recruiting and developing an in-house team
For example, reviewing your organisation’s current legal provision and working to establish your core requirements, where work could be best undertaken in-house and best out-sourced, advising on recruitment and retention of legal staff, assisting with JDs and interview panels, setting up policies and procedures.
- Establishing or reviewing a legal panel
Assisting you or your in-house team with designing a panel review or a new appointment process. Establishing key requirements, fee structures and KPIs.
- Getting the best from your legal panel
Building relationships, negotiating fee structures, managing client expectations, exploiting added value offers.
- Managing and developing strong relationships with internal clients
Working with in-house teams and, where appropriate, their internal clients to understand their service delivery needs, advising on how to demonstrate value and managing client expectations.
Each package of work can be tailored to suit the individual requirements of your organisation, as and when support is required, on an hourly or daily rate basis.
Support for individuals
Claire designed, recruited and grew her in-house team and has worked with many in-house lawyers from a wide range of companies and organisations. She has provided mentoring and support to team members, colleagues, junior lawyers and law students and knows what it takes to succeed in-house.
Claire offers individual advice and support on all aspects of moving and working in-house through coaching and mentoring to individuals (can be provided in person or via phone or skype).
Claire can advise and support you on:
- Pros and cons of working in-house – should you make the move?
- Would you be a good in-house lawyer?
- Who could you work for?
- Getting an in-house post
- Setting up an in-house service
- Working with external lawyers
- Managing your clients
- Managing your time
- Demonstrating your value
- Growing a team and your role
Support can be provided as and when required, on an hourly or day rate basis.