Principal Education Lawyer | Preston

Overview

As Principal Education Lawyer, you will lead a small specialist team within Legal Services to advise on education matters and drive service improvement. You will influence senior stakeholders, shape policy, and ensure governance compliance while delivering strategic objectives in the education domain. This role offers impact across schools, authorities and external partners within a mission-driven public sector environment. You will work closely with Directors and Heads of Service to build a high-quality, stakeholder-focused legal service.

Pay / Benefits

• Competitive salary
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Flexible working opportunities
• Health and wellbeing support
• Family-friendly policies
• Financial and travel benefits

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a specialist Education Law team
• Advise and influence senior stakeholders to shape education policy and practice
• Collaborate with Directors, Heads of Service, in-house teams and external stakeholders
• Ensure service improvement, governance compliance and delivery of strategic objectives
• Drive high-quality service provision and effective communication with diverse stakeholders

Key requirements

• Honours degree in a relevant discipline
• Admitted Solicitor or Barrister (England & Wales) with current practising certificate
• Strong knowledge of Local Authority governance and education law frameworks
• Extensive experience in Education Law and advising Local Authorities, schools or public sector organisations on Employment Law
• Experience leading, developing and motivating a professional team
• Excellent communication skills with stakeholders at all levels
• Proven ability to drive service quality and outcomes

• leadership
• stakeholder management
• communication
• Education Law
• Employment Law (Public Sector)
• Local Authority governance

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