Minster Law enters into trainee secondment programme with ACSO

Minster Law and the Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO), the trade association for companies that support consumers as claimants within the civil justice system, have teamed up to kick start a secondment programme that provides trainees with insight into the claims industry.

Minster Law trainee solicitor Daniel Bates joined ACSO in June to become the first of many young and talented individuals in the claims sector to learn more about how the industry operates, and the challenges it faces.

Daniel said “I’m hugely fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work with ACSO, and I would recommend it to anyone seeking to broaden their knowledge of the claims sector.”

Daniel said after only a few weeks, ACSO had provided him with “industry insight and commercial awareness that would be impossible to get anywhere else” at this stage of his career.

“I attend committee meetings alongside ACSO’s members and join ACSO’s working groups to help further their projects. The working groups include technology and innovation, clinical negligence, vulnerable road users, claims management and the personal injury reform group.”

Daniel is also leading a special project for ACSO, researching innovations that are changing the way legal services are being sought, structured and delivered. The report will feed into ACSO’s work on technology and innovation, helping to understand the trends and factors that are changing the landscape of the legal sector, and what impact this may have upon consumers.
“ACSO argues that civil protections have been eroded in recent history and the balance needs to be redressed. And post Covid-19, it is clear that deeply transformative changes are imminent,” he said.

Daniel said the secondment would help him further his career as a trainee solicitor at Minster Law, one of the UK’s leading personal injury firms.

“In our line of work our customers are mostly injured (for example in a road traffic accident) and they have little knowledge of their rights and need our help to tackle the challenges of the civil justice system. I am proud to be part of an organisation that champions consumer access to justice and aims for better consumer outcomes when they make a claim..”

Rachel Cairnes, ACSO’s Policy and Public Affairs Adviser, said ACSO was keen to give secondees a chance to build relationships with senior figures from the industry, as well as with policymakers, regulators, media, and other stakeholders with whom they regularly engage.

“We have given Daniel ‘access all areas’ with all relevant ACSO meetings, working groups and workshops. Not only does this enable him to gain new skills and experiences, but it deepens his understanding of the inner workings of the claims industry.”

The programme will aid the long-term career development of Minster’s trainees and ensure they understand that the consumer must be at the heart of regulatory and legislative matters.

Rachel said that the secondment lasts 4-6 months, and ACSO would be keen to hear from other talented executives seeking to advance their knowledge via this route.

“We are really pleased with the programme, and Dan has quickly become an active member of our team. We’re looking forward to welcoming others into ACSO during the next few months.”

For more information about the work of ACSO, click here.