Principal Lawyer - Education

Sellick Partnership; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 67,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Generous annual leave

Excellent pension scheme

Career development

Employee wellbeing

Discounts and perks

Job summary

Devon County Council is seeking an exceptional Principal Lawyer to lead its Education Law function within Legal and Democratic Services. You will advise on governance, SEND, admissions and safeguarding, and provide strategic legal leadership across a wide range of education matters for children and young people.

As a senior leader, you will manage a specialist team, influence senior stakeholders, and work with schools and partner organisations to deliver pragmatic, high-quality legal solutions

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor, barrister or legal executive with education-law experience.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to advise at senior level and manage risk.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Education Law function and manage a specialist legal team.
• Advise on complex and high-profile education matters.
• Support policy development and strategic decisions affecting children.

Skills

Education law

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Legal qualification

Job description

Principal Lawyer - Education

Salary: £67,401 + £8,000 market supplement

About the role

Are you an experienced education lawyer looking for the opportunity to influence strategic decision-making and improve outcomes for children and young people?

Devon County Council is seeking an exceptional Principal Lawyer to lead its Education Law function within Legal and Democratic Services. This is a senior leadership position offering the opportunity to manage a specialist legal team, advise on complex and high-profile matters, and play a key role in supporting some of the Council's most important services.

Working closely with senior leaders, elected Members, schools and partner organisations, you will provide authoritative legal advice across a broad range of education matters, including:

• School governance
• SEND
• Admissions and exclusions
• Safeguarding

You will lead on complex cases, advise on legal risk and contribute to the development of policies and decisions that positively impact children, families and education providers across Devon.

As a key member of the Legal Services Management Team, you will contribute to the strategic direction of the service while leading, developing and supporting a highly skilled team of legal professionals. You will have significant autonomy and responsibility for managing sensitive and challenging matters, influencing senior stakeholders and delivering pragmatic, high-quality legal solutions in a complex public sector environment.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a qualified solicitor, barrister or legal executive with relevant litigation rights and substantial experience in education law, together with strong leadership, communication and influencing skills.

You will be confident advising at senior level, managing complex legal risk and building effective relationships across a diverse range of stakeholders.

Benefits of working for Devon County Council

• Flexible working: Hybrid options, flexitime, and compressed hours to suit your lifestyle.
• Generous annual leave: 34 days plus bank holidays
• Excellent pension scheme: Secure your future with one of the best public sector pension schemes.
• Continuous development: Access to training, qualifications, and career progression opportunities.
• Employee wellbeing: Mental health support, staff networks, and wellbeing initiatives.
• Discounts and perks: From local leisure facilities to national retailers, plus cycle-to-work schemes.

Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances.