Senior Associate - Education

An established UK law firm is seeking a Senior Associate to join its education practice, with flexibility to be based in one of several UK offices. The role involves providing strategic legal advice to higher education institutions, colleges, and related organisations across a broad range of governance, student, regulatory, and data protection matters.

The successful candidate will support institutions through complex governance, safeguarding, and student-related challenges, advising on regulatory and governance obligations affecting the education sector. Work includes advising international pathway providers on arrangements with universities and registration with the Office for Students, handling safeguarding challenges and related litigation, and advising on data protection, freedom of information, data breaches, and data sharing.

The role also covers advice on freedom of speech and no-platforming issues, litigation involving students as consumers, and regulatory advice on mergers and acquisitions of education-sector clients, including potential insolvencies and stress purchases. The associate will advise educational institutions and charities on safeguarding obligations and investigations, support leadership teams responding to historic and current safeguarding concerns involving staff, students, and volunteers, and contribute to sector thought leadership and client engagement initiatives.

The firm is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, welcoming applications from all backgrounds and offering a hybrid working policy with 50% office attendance.

• Minimum of 6 years' 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.
• Interest and knowledge in Higher Education policy and sector developments.
• Experience handling sensitive and high-profile matters involving senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial judgement and risk-management capability.
• Ability to commute into the office 50% of the time.