Principal Lawyer - Education

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting the Council's commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people. You will work closely with senior leaders, elected members, schools, academies and multi-agency partners, providing strategic legal guidance that helps shape and deliver educational services across the authority., As Principal Lawyer, you will lead and manage a specialist education law team, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, customer-focused legal services. You will advise on a broad range of education-related matters, including:

• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) law and the Children & Families Act 2014
• School admissions
• School non-attendance
• Safeguarding and child protection
• Judicial reviews
• Academy conversions and school governance
• Complaints, investigations and statutory appeals
• Policy development and legislative compliance
You will manage complex and sensitive caseloads, represent the Council in legal proceedings where required, and build strong relationships with stakeholders across the organisation.

We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Principal Lawyer to lead our Education Law function and provide expert legal advice on a wide range of complex and high-profile education matters., You will be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive (CILEX) with significant post-qualification experience in education law and local government practice. You will also have:
• Extensive knowledge of education legislation and public law
• Experience managing complex legal casework and litigation
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Excellent communication and influencing abilities
• A proven ability to provide strategic legal advice to senior stakeholders
• A commitment to delivering high-quality, outcome-focused legal services
  
  Roles available range from legal assistant to senior solicitor. There are also opportunities for paralegal apprenticeships which provide a career progression route for legally unqualified staff.
Working in a public sector legal environment offers many advantages over private practice. There are no billing targets and a flexible working policy enables some flexibility in working hours, along with the possibility of some homeworking - ensuring that staff are able to maintain a positive work-life balance. The variety of work is also much broader in a local authority. No two days are the same and you will be asked to consider questions and issues that you would be unlikely to come across in private practice. Madgex Design System Icon.Madgex Design System Icon.

Working for Devon County Council (DCC) has all the benefits that you can expect from a large employer. In return for the vital contribution that you make, we offer:
• 34 days annual leave per year plus Bank Holidays effective from 1 April 2024.
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme - more information can be found on the Peninsula Pensions website
• Access to our confidential Employee Assistant Programme - available 24/7 to support you with personal and work life.
• Flexible working opportunities, including homeworking (subject to the needs of the role).
• Discounts from local and high street retailers through the Devon Discounts scheme
Why Devon? Everything we do is guided by our vision for a fairer, greener, and more prosperous Devon. Our six strategic priorities are:
• Positive futures for our young people
• Supporting independence and dignity
• Continuous improvement of services
• A green Devon for future generations
• Economic inclusion and local prosperity
• Stronger communities and safer places