The Education team support children, pupils and students throughout their academic journey, from primary school through to further and higher education. We cover matters such as school admission appeals, exclusions, complaints, Special Educational Needs, discrimination, academic misconduct, non-academic misconduct, issues regarding PhDs and Fitness to Practise. This role is to provide senior level assistance and support to the team leader (Consultant), and the team of solicitors in the Education team. At an operational level this role will be about working as a senior solicitor, with your own caseload, and supporting the current team of fee earners in managing the smooth running of their own case loads. Key Responsibilities Provide a high-quality legal service to clients of the firm to include processing new and existing instructions, covering all aspects of education law work. The range of work is broad and will cover work from parents, in respect of their children at primary school, secondary school and independent school, through to young adults at university. You will work on matters related to: School admissions Discrimination Disputes with Independent Schools Safeguarding School complaints Special Educational Needs School Suspensions and Exclusions Transgender questioning Academic Misconduct Plagiarism Non Academic Misconduct Complaints to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator Degree Classification issues Fitness to Practise PhD issues International Students Use your existing knowledge and skills, including: Attending upon clients and taking instructions Providing advice to clients on merits, quantum, deadlines and options for legal remedies Drafting letters of advice to clients and pre action protocols Submitting complaints to schools, colleges and universities Advising clients on litigation, including judicial review Negotiating resolutions on behalf of clients Advising on costs Preparing papers for internal appeals at schools, colleges, local authorities and universities Research appropriate case law Create precedents for the team KNOWLEDGE Ensuring that professional services provided by the team are of the highest quality, that client care standards are effectively maintained, and that work completed meets the appropriate standards. To ensure that files are maintained properly and that matters are progressed in line with the firm’s standard, up to and including billing and file closing. Ensure efficient file management including adherence to timescales, compliance with precedents, letters or documents on the case management system, with appropriate supervision. Optimise the use of technology and software applications to make the client experience as smooth and efficient as possible. Complying with the Office Manual and immediately reporting to the consultant on any areas of concern or risk to the client and/or firm. PRACTICE GROWTH & FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE Being responsible for billing and administration processes in line with team procedures; taking responsibility for delegating work to junior solicitors, trainees, paralegals and /or the group legal administrator(s) where appropriate; providing guidance on legal issues for more junior members of the team where appropriate; managing cash and disbursement control; working on ad hoc projects as and when required. Ensuring work is prioritised and progressed as efficiently as possible; new business is effectively introduced and managed into the firm; the consultants and partners in the Group are sufficiently aware of your workload and specific issues which arise on your matters; you maintain a flexible and proactive approach to work and good working relationships with external institutions, including clients and any professional referrers to promote IBB’s brand in the marketplace. CLIENTS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Regarded as ‘Trusted Advisor’ by clients and other professional bodies. Helping to develop team capability to the point it can be marketed more extensively to existing clients not yet using the service and/or new prospects. Looking for ways to innovate with existing streams of work; building your own personal reputation and building eminence for the firm ; developing existing and new contacts and referrers of work; taking the lead on article writing in your team and regularly preparing material to be uploaded to the firm’s website; seeking written feedback from clients; participating in the drafting of professional directory submissions (eg Chambers and Legal 500); joining relevant associations, including the Education Law Association, and seeking out positions of responsibility to support your personal ambitions to become or maintain your position as a leader in your field and encouraging others in the team to build the team reputation. Remain professionally and technically up to date by participating in learning and development activities and recording CPD, as well as developing knowledge of the market place and client base. PEOPLE Remain professionally and technically up to date by participating in learning and development activities and recording CPD, as well as developing knowledge of the market place and client base. Person Specification Qualifications Educated to degree level (with a 2:1 or above) with a strong LPC pass or equivalent and hold a current unencumbered practising certificate from the SRA. Skills and Experiences Indicatively, 4 years post qualification experience in this area of legal work Good technical grounding in this area of law. Any following/ local connections (an advantage). A passion for this practice area. Flexible with the ability to work to tight deadlines whilst maintaining the highest quality standards and attention to details. IT literate and self-sufficient in using document management systems, MS Office and the internet as a business tool. The candidate must demonstrates a desire to embrace technology. Previous experience of managing and leading people within a team; supporting junior members of the team in developing and widening their own career progression and legal experience. A clear awareness of the need to develop business, with experience in marketing, demonstrating an ability to attract work and exploit opportunities .