Principal Lawyer - Education

Staffordshire County Council; Stafford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional local authority in the United Kingdom is looking for an experienced Senior Lawyer to lead its Education and SEND team. This role involves providing complex legal advice, mentoring team members, and managing a diverse caseload, particularly in SEND matters. The ideal candidate will be a qualified legal executive or solicitor with a strong background in education law. The council promotes flexible working and values diverse experiences, encouraging all skilled applicants to apply.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Supportive working environment

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Education law and SEND matters.
• Ability to manage complex casework.
• Strong training qualities for junior staff development.

Responsibilities

• Provide complex legal advice, focusing on SEND issues.
• Lead and develop the Education and SEND team.
• Manage education-related judicial review caseload.

Skills

Education law expertise

Strong mentoring abilities

Excellent communication skills

Complex legal document drafting

Education

Qualified Chartered Legal Executive or Solicitor or Barrister

Job description

We are looking for an experienced senior lawyer to be a subject matter expert and principal solicitor in our Education and SEND team. This is an exciting opportunity to grow and develop the team while helping to shape its future direction. You will oversee the delivery of legal services within the team and provide complex legal and procurement advice across all Council departments.

We are a forward-thinking, modern authority known for our strong financial management. We are ambitious and encourage our employees to be bold and innovative in their work. Our legal department consists of 100 dedicated lawyers and support staff.

We offer a diverse and rewarding caseload that allows you to apply your expertise in managing a range of complex legal matters.

Main Responsibilities

Responsibilities will include:

• Providing complex legal advice to the internal client on various matters but especially focussed on SEND issues.
• Leading, mentoring, and developing the existing Education and SEND team to ensure ongoing high performance and expertise in this area.
• Responding to and managing a caseload of education related judicial review and other complex matters.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for you to be a qualified Chartered Legal Executive (with practice/advocacy rights), Solicitor or Barrister with proven experience in Education law and particular specialism in SEND matters.

We are also looking for you to have,

• Significant experience in a legal environment, with the ability to manage complex casework.
• Strong mentoring and training qualities to support the progression and development of junior members of staff and professional growth.
• Excellent communication skills, able to engage clearly and confidently across verbal, written, and digital platforms.
• Ability to draft complex legal documents and provide accurate, high-quality advice.

Interviews will be held: week commencing 2 February 2026.

We would also be happy to consider flexible working.

Don’t feel you meet all the requirements? We value transferable skills, experiences, and qualifications so consider applying anyway or for an informal chat about the role please contact Robin Longhurst, Deputy Legal Services Manager at: [e-mail]

About Staffordshire County Council

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy.

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

Our benefits:

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to Our rewards and benefits - Careers at Staffordshire.

Our recruitment process:

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities.

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a GoldAward Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as yourapplication meets the minimum criteria for the post.