Principal Lawyer - Education

Devon County Council; United States; Remote; USD 87,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

34 days annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee assistance programme

Flexible working including homeworking

Devon Discounts

Job summary

Devon County Council seeks an experienced Principal Lawyer to lead its Education Law function and provide strategic legal guidance on SEND, admissions, safeguarding and governance to shape services for children and young people across the authority.

You will manage a specialist education law team, handle complex caseloads and represent the Council in proceedings when required, while building strong relationships with senior leaders, schools and partners to deliver high-quality, outcome-focused

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of education legislation and public law.
• Experience managing complex legal casework and litigation.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent communication and influencing abilities.
• A proven ability to provide strategic legal advice to senior stakeholders.
• A commitment to delivering high‑quality, outcome‑focused legal services.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a specialist education law team.
• Advise on a broad range of education-related matters, including SEND, admissions, safeguarding and governance.
• Represent the Council in legal proceedings where required.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the organisation.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic advisory

Stakeholder engagement

Public law

Education law

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister or CILEX

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting the Council's commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people. You will work closely with senior leaders, elected members, schools, academies and multi-agency partners, providing strategic legal guidance that helps shape and deliver educational services across the authority.

As Principal Lawyer, you will lead and manage a specialist education law team, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, customer-focused legal services. You will advise on a broad range of education-related matters, including:

• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) law and the Children & Families Act 2014
• School admissions
• School non-attendance
• Safeguarding and child protection
• Judicial reviews
• Academy conversions and school governance
• Complaints, investigations and statutory appeals
• Policy development and legislative compliance

You will manage complex and sensitive caseloads, represent the Council in legal proceedings where required, and build strong relationships with stakeholders across the organisation.

We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Principal Lawyer to lead our Education Law function and provide expert legal advice on a wide range of complex and high-profile education matters.

You will be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive (CILEX) with significant post-qualification experience in education law and local government practice.

• Extensive knowledge of education legislation and public law
• Experience managing complex legal casework and litigation
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Excellent communication and influencing abilities
• A proven ability to provide strategic legal advice to senior stakeholders
• A commitment to delivering high‑quality, outcome‑focused legal services

Roles available range from legal assistant to senior solicitor. There are also opportunities for paralegal apprenticeships which provide a career progression route for legally unqualified staff.

Working in a public sector legal environment offers many advantages over private practice. There are no billing targets and a flexible working policy enables some flexibility in working hours, along with the possibility of some homeworking – ensuring that staff are able to maintain a positive work‑life balance. The variety of work is also much broader in a local authority. No two days are the same and you will be asked to consider questions and issues that you would be unlikely to come across in private practice.

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Working for Devon County Council (DCC) has all the benefits that you can expect from a large employer.

Benefits

• 34 days annual leave per year plus Bank Holidays effective from 1 April 2024.
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme – more information can be found on the Peninsula Pensions website.
• Access to our confidential Employee Assistant Programme – available 24/7 to support you with personal and work life.
• Flexible working opportunities, including homeworking (subject to the needs of the role).
• Discounts from local and high street retailers through the Devon Discounts scheme.

Why Devon?

• Positive futures for our young people
• Supporting independence and dignity
• Continuous improvement of services
• A green Devon for future generations
• Economic inclusion and local prosperity
• Stronger communities and safer places