Irwin Mitchell is set to outsource 81 support staff ahead of its planned conversion to an alternative business structure (ABS).

The move is part of the firm's five-year deal to offload its facilities operations to business process outsourcing company OCS.

Following a consultation process, OCS will take over the management of all aspects of Irwin Mitchell's facilities management work, including document services and receptionists.

Irwin Mitchell group operations director Gary Jackson commented: "We have grown significantly as a firm in recent years, which has led to an increase in the facilities work we undertake.

"During that time we have built a very capable facilities team; however, we cannot lose sight of the fact that we are a law firm and our focus needs to be on ensuring that we continue to deliver high-quality legal services to all our clients."

In June this year Irwin Mitchell acted for OCS for the first time on its acquisition of a new UK head office in Crawley, Sussex, while the firm's corporate team also advised the outsourcer on a disposal of corporate assets earlier this year.

The national firm is set to become one of the first UK top 50 law firms to take advantage of the Legal Services Act after confirming plans in February this year to restructure its business to make it more attractive to outside investment.

The firm changed its structure in May, splitting the business into a limited liability partnership and a separate holding company and appointing a new board to manage both parts of the firm.