Education Senior Lawyer (6+ PQE)

Your new firm
Our client is a highly respected UK law firm with a strong and established education practice, advising higher education institutions, colleges and other organisations operating across the education sector.The team provides strategic advice on a broad range of governance, regulatory, student, safeguarding and data protection matters, supporting institutions in navigating increasingly complex legal and regulatory challenges. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced education lawyer to join a specialist practice undertaking varied, high-quality work for clients across the sector.

Your new role
This is an exciting opportunity for a Senior Associate specialising in education law to join the firm's team in Oxford. You will advise higher education institutions, colleges and related organisations on a broad range of complex regulatory, governance and contentious matters.Your work will include advising institutions on governance and regulatory obligations, alongside supporting international pathway providers with their arrangements with universities and registration with the Office for Students. You will also advise on safeguarding matters and investigations, data protection, Freedom of Information, data breaches and data sharing, as well as Freedom of Speech and no-platforming issues and related litigation. The role will involve handling student-related disputes and litigation, including matters concerning students as consumers. You will additionally provide regulatory advice in connection with mergers and acquisitions within the education sector, including potential insolvencies and distressed purchases. You will work with institutions and charities on safeguarding obligations and investigations, including sensitive historic and current concerns involving staff, students and volunteers. Alongside your client work, you will have the opportunity to contribute to thought leadership and wider client engagement initiatives across the education sector.

What you'll need to succeed
You will be a suitably qualified lawyer with a minimum of approximately 6 years' post-qualification experience and a demonstrable track record of advising higher education institutions, colleges or other organisations within the education sector.You will have strong knowledge of the higher education landscape and a genuine interest in sector policy, developments and current issues. Experience across areas including governance, investigations, student matters, safeguarding and data protection will be particularly relevant. You will be comfortable handling sensitive and potentially high-profile matters involving senior stakeholders, bringing strong commercial judgement, risk-management capability and the ability to provide clear, pragmatic advice.

What you'll get in return
You will join a highly regarded education practice offering exposure to sophisticated and varied work across the higher education sector. The role offers the opportunity to advise a broad institutional client base while developing your expertise across some of the most topical regulatory, governance, safeguarding and student-related issues affecting the sector.You will work within a collaborative and inclusive environment, with opportunities to contribute to client relationships and thought leadership alongside your core legal work. The firm offers a flexible hybrid working model, combining office-based and remote working on a 50/50 basis.

What you need to do now
If you are interested in this opportunity or would like further information, please get in touch for a confidential discussion. If this role is not quite right, but you are considering new opportunities, we would still be keen to hear from you. We would expect a lawyer with the given level of experience to have gained the skills required for this position; however, applications from candidates with more or less experience are encouraged and will be considered.

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