Salary: £46,162 – £51,356 per annum | Full Time, 37 hours per week | 12-month fixed term | Location: Preston (Hybrid)
Lancashire County Council is looking for an experienced Education Lawyer to join our Legal and Governance Service on a fixed-term basis. This is an exciting opportunity to work within a supportive and collaborative team, providing specialist advice on a wide range of education law matters.
As an Education Lawyer, you will:
1. Advise internal clients on all aspects of education law and practice, with a particular focus on Judicial Review challenges relating to Special Educational Needs provision and funding.
2. Provide advice on education policies and general practice, as well as to schools under service level agreements.
3. Handle a wide range of matters including parental disputes, contact queries, disability discrimination claims, and property-related issues.
4. Draft legal responses and court applications, instruct counsel where required, and undertake advocacy.
What we're looking for:
5. Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive with a current practising certificate.
6. Demonstrable experience in education law, ideally within a local authority or similar setting.
7. Strong communication skills and the ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision.
8. Experience advising on complex statutory duties and policy development.
9. Ability to deliver challenging solutions aligned with policy and procedure.
Apply now and help us deliver expert legal services that make a real difference for Lancashire—where your work truly matters.
For an informal discussion, please contact Date: 04/01/2026
Why join us?
By joining Lancashire County Council, you can shape the career path that is right for you, with opportunities to gain personal and professional qualifications, coaching, and mentoring. Lancashire County Council truly is the place where you can have the career you've always wanted.
In return for your passion and expertise, we offer a generous benefits package, which includes:
10. A competitive salary and Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions.
11. A great holiday entitlement of 26 days annual leave, which increases with length of service. You will also be entitled to 8 Bank Holidays, 2 additional statutory Bank Holidays, and have the option to buy additional leave each year.
12. Our staff discount scheme in partnership with Vivup, allowing you to access discounts with a range of UK retailers, saving on everything from weekly food shops to white goods and cars.
13. Access to fantastic development and career opportunities.
Please ensure you upload a supporting statement demonstrating how you meet the criteria for the role.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.