ABCC in talks with Cash's old law firm

A Senate hearing has been told the government's new building industry watchdog could look at enlisting the help of a minister's old law firm.

The federal government's restored building industry watchdog is in talks about the possibility of getting Employment Minister Michaelia Cash's old law firm on board.

Australian Building and Construction Commission official Cathy Cato has told a Senate hearing in Canberra it's looking at contracting out some work involved in checking if enterprise bargaining agreements comply with a new building code.

A preliminary meeting has been held with Freehills' new law firm Alternative Legal Services, she told senators on Thursday, with more talks planned for next week.

"They have given us a preliminary meeting to talk about the sort of services they offer," Ms Cato said.

"Because of the likely cost of that we would, I would imagine, go out to tender."

Another firm had been mentioned but they don't think they can offer the same required service, she said.

Senator Cash was a senior lawyer at Freehills between 1999 and 2008.