Legal, risk and compliance

Recruitment has its own rules, from the Conduct Regulations and IR35 to data protection and the Agency Workers Regulations. Specialist lawyers, contract providers and insurers help you protect your fees, manage risk and stay on the right side of the law.

What to look for

• Recruitment specialists. A lawyer who works with agencies every day knows the problems you'll face, from unpaid fees to restrictive covenants.
• Terms of business that protect your fees. Clear terms with clients, contractors and candidates, kept up to date as the rules change.
• Predictable pricing. Many recruitment lawyers offer fixed fees or subscriptions for contracts and advice.
• Insurance designed for recruitment. Professional indemnity, employers' liability and public liability that reflect the work you actually do, including contract and overseas placements.
• Help with disputes. Recovering fees and debts when a client doesn't pay.

Questions to ask before you sign

• Do you mainly work with recruitment businesses?
• What do you charge, and is there a fixed-fee or subscription option?
• How quickly do you answer questions?
• For insurance: what's excluded, and does it cover every place and sector we recruit in?

Watch out for

• Old terms of business. If yours haven't been reviewed in a couple of years, they may not reflect the current rules.
• Insurance that doesn't match your work. Tell your insurer about contract, temporary and overseas placements.