Legal Services
The legal and regulatory environment for charities and other Third Sector Organisations (TSOs) has changed significantly over the last three years. The Charities Act 2006 reformulated the scope of charitable activities and introduced a new legal form – the Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The recognition of “social enterprise” has also triggered the creation of Community Interest Companies and increasing interest in cooperatives and industrial and provident societies. These changes have stimulated demand for legal services.
The establishment of regulators in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland will also be the catalyst for charities seeking legal advice. Increasing emphasis on procurement has fundamentally changed the nature of how charities work with government. In addition, financial pressures will be the stimulus for mergers and may force those vulnerable to the vagaries of the economy to wind up their affairs; all of these changes have legal implications for charities and TSOs. Not forgetting, charities employing staff, holding investments, utilising land and property, and promoting legacies all have requirements in terms of legal advice.
It is therefore essential that businesses providing legal services have access to comprehensive, up to date, and robust intelligence on the Third Sector.
GDS provides a range of products and services to support legal services: