Senior Associate – Education Law

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Education Lawyer at Senior Associate level to join a growing and highly regarded Education team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a solicitor with 6+ years' PQE and strong experience within the higher education sector to advise universities, colleges and other education organisations on complex and often high-profile legal and regulatory matters.

The role offers significant exposure to senior leadership teams and a varied caseload covering education regulation, governance, student matters, safeguarding, data protection and litigation**.

Key Responsibilities

- Advising universities, colleges and other education organisations on regulatory and governance obligations.
- Advising international pathway providers on arrangements with universities and Office for Students registration.
- Advising on complex safeguarding issues, investigations and related litigation.
- Handling **data protection, Freedom of Information, data breaches and data-sharing** matters.
- Advising on Freedom of Speech, no-platforming and related disputes or litigation.
- Advising on student-related disputes, including matters involving students as consumers.
- Advising on education-sector mergers and acquisitions, including transactions involving potential insolvency or distressed organisations.
- Advising educational institutions and charities on safeguarding obligations and investigations.
- Supporting senior leadership teams in responding to historic and current safeguarding concerns involving staff, students and volunteers.
- Managing sensitive and high-profile matters involving senior stakeholders.
- Developing strong client relationships and contributing to business development and sector-focused initiatives.
- Contributing to thought leadership and keeping up to date with developments across the higher education sector.

Skills & Experience

- Qualified Solicitor with 6+ years' PQE or equivalent relevant qualification.
- Strong experience advising universities, colleges or other education-sector organisations
- Demonstrable knowledge of the higher education sector including current regulatory and policy developments.
- Strong experience across areas such as governance, investigations, student matters, safeguarding and data protection
- Experience handling sensitive, complex or high-profile matters involving senior stakeholders.
- Experience of litigation and contentious matters would be highly desirable.
- Strong commercial judgement and an ability to assess and manage legal and reputational risk.
- Excellent communication and client management skills.

Should you have any questions or wish to apply please do not hesitate to contact Clear Legal and Financial.

Please Note: Due to the number of applications we receive we may be unable to respond to every application directly. If you have not heard from us within 3 working days please assume your application has been unsuccessful
Only candidates based in UK and eligible to work in UK are allowed