Senior Associate - Education

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP in the UK seeks a Senior Associate specialising in education law to deliver strategic advice to universities, colleges and educational charities on governance, safeguarding, student matters and data protection.

This role involves leading regulatory guidance, handling high-profile disputes, and supporting leadership teams, with a 50% hybrid pattern across our UK offices.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of post-qualification experience.
• SRA qualified (or other relevant qualification).
• Proven track record advising higher education institutions, colleges, or other educational organisations.
• Strong expertise in governance, investigations, student matters, and data protection.
• Experience handling sensitive and high-profile matters involving senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial judgement and risk-management capability.
• Can commute into the office 50% of the time (50% hybrid working).

Responsibilities

• Support institutions in navigating regulatory and governance obligations affecting the education sector.
• Advising international pathway providers on their arrangements with universities and OfS registration.
• Safeguarding challenges and related litigation.
• Data protection work including FOI, data breaches and data sharing.
• Advice around Freedom of Speech / No platforming and related litigation.
• Litigation from students as consumers.
• Regulatory advice on education sector mergers and acquisitions including insolvencies.
• Advise educational institutions and charities on safeguarding obligations and investigations.
• Support leadership teams in responding to safeguarding concerns involving staff, students, and volunteers.
• Contribute to sector thought leadership and client engagement initiatives.

Skills

Governance

Data protection

Student matters

High-profile litigation

Commercial judgement

Hybrid working

Education

6+ years PQE

SRA qualified

Job description

We are currently looking for a Senior Associate specialising in education law to join our team. The successful candidate would be located in one of our UK offices.

This role provides strategic legal advice to higher education institutions, colleges, and related organisations on a broad range of governance, student, regulatory, and data protection matters. The role requires a deep understanding of the education sector, supporting institutions through complex governance, safeguarding, and student-related challenges.

Responsibilities

• Support institutions in navigating regulatory and governance obligations affecting the education sector
• Advising international pathway providers on (a) their arrangements with universities, (b) registration with the Office for Students
• Safeguarding challenges and related litigation
• Data protection work together with freedom of Information, data breaches and data sharing
• Advice around Freedom of Speech /No platforming and related litigation
• Litigation from the student as a consumer
• Regulatory advice on mergers and acquisitions of clients in the education sector including with potential insolvencies and stress purchases
• Advise educational institutions and charities on safeguarding obligations and investigations.
• Support leadership teams in responding to historic and current safeguarding concerns involving staff, students, and volunteers.
• Contribute to sector thought leadership and client engagement initiatives

Essential & Desirable Criteria

• Interest and knowledge in Higher Education policy, developments in the sector, sector news etc.
• Minimum 6 years of post-qualification experience.
• SRA qualified (or other relevant qualification)
• Demonstrable track record advising higher education institutions, colleges, or other educational organisations.
• Strong expertise in governance, investigations, student matters, and data protection.
• Experience handling sensitive and high-profile matters involving senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial judgement and risk-management capability.
• Can commute into the office 50% of the time (we have a 50% hybrid working policy)

At our firm, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a priority and at the heart of everything we do. We actively want to attract a diverse workforce and welcome applications from everyone, from all backgrounds. We are committed to promoting an inclusive culture where everyone can be their full selves and experience being seen and heard. You can find out more about our firm’s commitment, initiatives and Pennclusion committees here.

We ensure that there are equal opportunities and treatment for all job applicants and employees, at all stages of the recruitment process and employment, regardless of age, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and social background. We aim to provide adjustments for people who have a disability, long-term health condition (including mental health) or neurodiversity. If you would like to request an adjustment, please contact [e-mail]