Education Solicitor

VWV; Watford; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

VWV is seeking an experienced education lawyer to join their leading regulatory compliance team. This role involves advising independent schools on a range of legal issues, including admissions, safeguarding obligations, and regulatory frameworks. With a hybrid work model and a focus on collaborative culture, this position offers a unique opportunity to impact the education sector positively.

Qualifications

• Experience as an education lawyer.
• Specialization in parent and student matters.
• Familiarity with safeguarding obligations.

Responsibilities

• Advise on admissions and exclusions, conflicts, and regulatory compliance.
• Supervise team work and deliver strategic objectives.
• Provide incident management and reputation protection services.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Contentious work

Non-contentious work

Advising independent schools

Job description

An exceptional opportunity for an education lawyer at a top-ranked practice! At VWV, we are committed to advising and representing education providers. This role aims to expand our thriving and profitable regulatory compliance practice with a bright and pragmatic lawyer, likely at around the solicitor or associate level. Since regulatory compliance work is core to our firm's success, this is a chance to work at the very engine of the firm.

About us

We are a Top 100, full-service UK law firm with just over 500 employees, with offices in London, Watford, Bristol, and Birmingham. Our close-knit and friendly culture emphasizes integrity and authenticity—encouraging everyone to be themselves. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work and our people, recruiting proactive, passionate individuals who demonstrate humor and humility.

Our Regulatory Compliance practice

Our specialist regulatory compliance team guides clients, particularly education and health and social care providers, through their regulatory frameworks and legal challenges. Many clients are nationally renowned, and our work is driven by legal and political developments in our sectors, making it a dynamic and evolving practice.

Recognized in legal directories as tier 1, our practice is distinguished by sector knowledge, high service standards, and flexible pricing. The team is headed by Partner [Name], comprising 5 partners, 21 lawyers, and 4 support staff.

The role

If you're an experienced education lawyer specializing in parent and student matters, as well as compliance with regulatory frameworks specific to independent schools, this opportunity may be for you. Ideally, you will have experience in both contentious and non-contentious work, advising independent schools, school groups, and governing bodies on a broad range of legal issues.

You will work closely with the team lead for independent school practice, supervising team work and helping to deliver our strategy in this sector. Your caseload may include advising on admissions, exclusions (including appeals), managing student behavior and disciplinary issues, safeguarding, SEN, equality matters, handling complaints and claims (including tribunal work), and guiding schools through inspections and regulatory compliance.

You will also provide incident management and reputation protection services—key areas for independent schools. Familiarity with fee disputes, parental complaints, safeguarding obligations, and handling sensitive cases discreetly to preserve reputation is essential.

This role offers a unique opportunity to support independent schools navigating political and regulatory changes and continuing to thrive.

Location

We are flexible regarding location. Our culture values social interaction, and we operate a hybrid model of office and remote work. Ideally, you would be based at one of our offices part-time to benefit from our culture and facilitate cross-referrals. We are happy to discuss specific hybrid working arrangements on an individual basis.