Eversheds is piloting a low-cost legal process centre in Leeds, with a ring-fenced team of lawyers, paralegals and administrative staff carrying out routine work for the firm's real estate group.

The project, led by finance director Kathryn Fleming, kicked off in May and will run for three to six months. Real estate head Julie Stobart is leading the 14-strong team, which has been drawn from existing real estate personnel but sits outside the practice group.

The team will handle legal processes including case reviews and post-completion work, and the centre could be expanded to offer similar services to other practice groups if deemed successful.

Fleming commented: "This is a baseline exercise allowing us to examine the results, look at how to tweak service delivery and consider whether a centralised team makes sense for the business as a whole. This is part of ongoing work looking at processing, teams and different service delivery models."

Eversheds declined to comment on which clients were being serviced out of the new centre or how much it is expected to save. A four-person project management team is also following the trial, with chief executive Bryan Hughes and client service director Peter Halpin currently looking into service improvements.

The move echoes similar recent initiatives such as Addleshaw Goddard's Manchester paralegal centre and Allen & Overy's support arm in Belfast.

The news comes after Eversheds last year rowed back from a proposed legal process outsourcing venture with Accenture, citing a lack of client interest and difficulties in finalising a deal with the consulting firm.

The firm has launched a number of new ventures in recent years, including the Eversheds Consulting management advisory arm and its own 'on demand' legal business Eversheds Agile.