Locum Education Lawyer
Coventry (remote working)
£50-£60 per hour
Initial 6-month contract

We are currently seeking an experienced Education Lawyer to join a busy People Team within a local authority legal service. This is an excellent opportunity to work on complex and high-profile matters, providing high-quality legal advice and representation while supporting vulnerable service areas.Working as part of the Law, Governance and Safer Communities Directorate, you will support client departments with sound legal advice, represent the Council in Courts and Tribunals, and contribute to the effective delivery of a comprehensive in-house legal service.
Key Responsibilities
*Provide expert legal advice to internal client departments, primarily in relation to education law
*Act as a Lawyer within the People Team, managing a complex and varied caseload.
*Represent the Council in Courts, Tribunals (including SEND), hearings, panels, and other forums (virtually)
*Draft high-quality legal documentation, including court applications, reports, correspondence, and advice notes
*Build effective working relationships across Legal Services, support functions, and client directorates
*Support the Team Leader and Head of Service with service delivery, team processes, and continuous improvement.
*Ensure all matters are delivered within agreed timescales and in line with governance, safeguarding, and data protection requirements
About You
You will be an experienced legal professional with a strong background in education and local government law, ideally gained within an in-house or public sector environment.You will bring:
*Qualification as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive, with rights to conduct litigation and advocacy
*A sound understanding of local government and administrative law, with working knowledge of education law
*Experience managing a full and complex caseload, including high-risk or contentious matters
*Proven experience representing clients in court, SEND tribunals, hearings, meetings, or panels
*Strong drafting skills across a range of legal documents
*Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and meet challenging deadlines
*Confidence working with a range of stakeholders and advising at pace
*Strong IT skills, including case management systems and Microsoft Office
Why Apply?
This role offers the chance to work at the heart of a public service legal function, handling meaningful and challenging work while supporting key service areas. You’ll gain exposure to complex education matters, senior stakeholders, and a respected local authority legal team.

What you need to do now
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