Education Law Senior Associate — Governance & Safeguarding

UNAVAILABLE; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Pennington Slaw is seeking a Senior Associate specialising in education law to join our UK offices. The role provides strategic advice to higher education institutions on governance, safeguarding, student matters, and data protection.

You will advise on regulatory issues, investigations, and complex litigation, with hybrid working requiring 50% office presence. Candidates should have 6+ years PQE and SRA qualification.

Qualifications

• Experience advising higher education institutions, colleges or educational bodies.
• Strong expertise in governance, investigations, student matters, and data protection.
• Experience handling sensitive matters with senior stakeholders.
• Willingness to commute 50% to office (hybrid).

Responsibilities

• Support institutions in navigating regulatory and governance obligations affecting the education sector.
• Advise on international pathway providers and registration with the Office for Students.
• Handle safeguarding challenges and related litigation.
• Work on data protection, FOI, data breaches and data sharing.
• Advise on Freedom of Speech/No platforming and related litigation.
• Litigation from students as consumers.
• Regulatory advice on education sector M&A including insolvencies.
• Advise educational institutions and charities on safeguarding obligations and investigations.
• Support leadership teams in responding to safeguarding concerns involving staff and students.
• Contribute to sector thought leadership and client engagement initiatives.

Skills

Higher Education policy

Governance

Data protection

Investigations

Student matters

Commercial judgement

Education

SRA qualification

Job description

Pennington Slaw is seeking a Senior Associate specialising in education law to join our UK offices. The role provides strategic advice to higher education institutions on governance, safeguarding, student matters, and data protection.

You will advise on regulatory issues, investigations, and complex litigation, with hybrid working requiring 50% office presence. Candidates should have 6+ years PQE and SRA qualification.