Education Senior Associate 6+ years’ PQE OXFORD

Farrar Levin Legal Recruitment; Oxford; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Farrar Levin Legal Recruitment is seeking an Education Solicitor (6+ PQE) to join a strong commercial law firm's Education team in Oxford. You will advise universities, colleges and education-sector organisations on governance, regulatory matters and high-profile disputes.

You'll work closely with senior stakeholders, shaping policy and sector developments, with a hybrid working model and significant client contact within a growing practice.

Qualifications

• 6+ years' PQE as a qualified Solicitor.
• Strong experience advising universities, colleges or education-sector organisations.
• Expertise in governance, investigations, student matters and data protection.
• Excellent legal analysis and commercial judgement.
• Experience managing complex matters involving senior stakeholders.
• Genuine interest in higher education policy and sector developments.

Responsibilities

• Advise on governance and regulatory compliance for universities.
• Handle student disputes and consumer litigation.
• Counsel on data protection, information sharing and breach management.
• Assist with FOI requests and freedom of information issues.
• Advise on OfS regulatory matters and sector developments.
• Contribute to governance on international pathway providers and restructurings.
• Engage with senior stakeholders and provide strategic advice.

Skills

6+ PQE

Education sector experience

Governance expertise

Data protection

Stakeholder management

Higher education policy interest

Job description

A strong commercial law firm is seeking an Education Solicitor (6+ PQE) to join its growing and highly regarded Education team in Oxford. This is an exceptional opportunity to advise universities, colleges and education-sector organisations on complex, high-profile matters that shape the evolving regulatory landscape of higher education. The role will include advising on:

• Governance and regulatory compliance
  Student disputes and consumer litigation
  Data protection, information sharing and breach management
  Freedom of Information requests
  Freedom of Speech and "No Platforming" issues
  Safeguarding investigations and related litigation
  Office for Students (OfS) regulatory matters
  International pathway provider arrangements
  Mergers, acquisitions and organisational restructuring
  Insolvency-related transactions and stress purchases

You'll work closely with senior stakeholders across the higher education sector, providing strategic advice on sensitive and often sector-defining issues.

About you:

• 6+ years' PQE as a qualified Solicitor
  Strong experience advising universities, colleges or education-sector organisations
  Expertise in governance, investigations, student matters and data protection
  Excellent legal analysis and commercial judgement
  Experience managing complex matters involving senior stakeholders
  A genuine interest in higher education policy, regulation and sector developments

Why join?

• Work with leading Higher Education institutions across the UK
  Diverse, intellectually stimulating and high-profile caseload
  Significant client contact and responsibility
  Excellent progression opportunities within a growing practice
  Hybrid working model (50% office-based)
  Opportunities for thought leadership, sector engagement and profile development