Associate - Education in Leeds

Associate - Education in Leeds

Leeds Full-Time 30000 - 40000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Hill Dickinson LLP

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join our Education team to advise on policies and support educational institutions.
  • Company: Hill Dickinson, a Top Ten Employer for Working Families 2025.
  • Benefits: 25 days annual leave, flexible working, and wellness support.
  • Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in education while enjoying a supportive team environment.
  • Qualifications: Qualified Solicitor with experience in education law and excellent communication skills.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00 - 17:30 (37.5 hours per week)

Location: Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds

Benefits:

  • Annual leave starting at 25 days
  • Annual bonus scheme
  • Birthday privilege day and Christmas shutdown
  • Holiday buy, sell and carryover scheme
  • 2 charity volunteering or pro bono days
  • Optional private medical insurance via BUPA
  • Annual fitness allowance
  • Flexible pension scheme
  • ISA saving scheme and independent financial advice
  • Electric or hybrid vehicle lease scheme
  • Medicash EAP with access to counselling
  • Enhanced family leave policies
  • Access to confidential, expert support via Fertifa in relation to reproductive health and wellbeing
  • Access to 10 days fully subsidised emergency or back‑up care per year via Bright Horizons
  • Life assurance
  • Group income protection
  • Annual travel season ticket loan
  • Hybrid working and dress for your day policy
  • Bespoke training and development opportunities
  • Financial contribution towards home working equipment

Role Overview:

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our successful and rapidly growing Education team. The role offers the opportunity to work alongside Luke Green and Joe Orme‑Paul who have developed our leading education practice with clients across the sector including schools, further education institutions and universities with a national reach. You will be given plenty of client responsibility and exposure but at the same time be part of a supportive team environment. Our dedicated team of lawyers support a range of educational institutions with various regulatory and compliance issues. The Education team sits alongside our Employment practice with strong collaboration between lawyers to deliver client service excellence and a complete package of essential legal services.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Advising on the development and application of statutory policies
  • Advising on the requirements of equality law, particularly in the context of special educational needs and Children and Families Act 2014 regime
  • Supporting clients with complaints, process management and outcomes
  • Advice and support with academy trust regulation including funding agreements, notices to improve, the application of the Academy Trust Handbook
  • Advice and support on decisions to exclude pupils/students, process and outcome
  • Admissions advice including oversubscription criteria development, local disputes and representations before the Schools Adjudicator
  • Providing advice and support on Freedom of Information and Data Protection requests
  • Governance advice for maintained schools and academy trusts, including drafting documents and liaising with the Department for Education
  • Commercial contract reviews and advices
  • Procurement advice
  • Academy transactional work
  • Conducting sector‑focused litigation, including Judicial Review, SEND Tribunal, and County Court proceedings

Qualifications:

  • Qualified Solicitor (NQ - 3 years PQE)
  • Demonstrable experience in supporting an education team
  • The ability and experience of managing a caseload providing sound commercial advice
  • Transactional support experience
  • Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks and work under pressure
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
  • The ability to work as part of a team and independently
  • Adheres to guidelines and procedures
  • An understanding of clients’ needs and expectations
  • Travel to clients and other offices
  • Flexibility in approach and a willingness to work outside normal office hours, if required

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

Hill Dickinson is committed to providing fairness and equal opportunity for all regardless of age, gender, gender identity, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital or transgender status, nationality, religion or belief. We understand that our power as a firm comes from empowering our people and that it is only by encouraging and enabling individuals to be themselves at work that we can truly benefit from their rich and varied strengths. Hill Dickinson is an equal opportunities employer. All applications received by the firm will be considered based on their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background and from all routes to qualification, with both the SRA and CILEx.

Disability Support:

We are a Disability Confident employer, which means if there is anything that we can do to make your visit easier, so you are able to perform at your best, please let us know. You can contact the HR team at hrteam@hilldickinson.com should you require any adjustments to the application or interview process.

Associate - Education in Leeds employer: Hill Dickinson LLP

Hill Dickinson is an exceptional employer, recognised as a Top Ten Employer for Working Families 2025, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises flexibility and work-life balance. With generous benefits including 25 days of annual leave, bespoke training opportunities, and a commitment to employee wellbeing, our Education team in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds provides a collaborative environment where you can thrive and make a meaningful impact in the education sector.
Hill Dickinson LLP

Contact Detail:

Hill Dickinson LLP Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Associate - Education in Leeds

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews! Research Hill Dickinson and their education team thoroughly. Understand their values and recent projects so you can show how you fit into their culture and contribute to their success.

✨Tip Number 3

Practice makes perfect! Get a friend or mentor to do mock interviews with you. This will help you articulate your experience and skills confidently, making you stand out when it counts.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our awesome team at Hill Dickinson.

We think you need these skills to ace Associate - Education in Leeds

Legal Knowledge in Education Law
Client Advisory Skills
Regulatory Compliance
Statutory Policy Development
Equality Law Understanding
Process Management
Commercial Contract Review
Procurement Advice
Litigation Experience
Excellent Organisational Skills
Communication Skills
Team Collaboration
Caseload Management
Flexibility and Adaptability

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Associate role in Education. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that align with the job description, especially your understanding of education law and client management.

Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since excellent communication is key for this role, use clear and concise language in your application. Don’t forget to demonstrate your written communication skills by providing examples of how you've effectively communicated complex legal concepts in the past.

Highlight Teamwork Experience: We love a team player! Make sure to mention any previous experiences where you collaborated with others, especially in a legal or educational context. This will show us that you can thrive in our supportive team environment.

Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role without any hiccups!

How to prepare for a job interview at Hill Dickinson LLP

✨Know Your Stuff

Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of the Associate role. Brush up on statutory policies, equality law, and the Children and Families Act 2014. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you’re serious about the position.

✨Showcase Your Experience

Prepare specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your experience in supporting an education team. Highlight any cases where you managed a caseload or provided commercial advice, as this will resonate with the interviewers.

✨Ask Smart Questions

Come prepared with thoughtful questions about the Education team and their collaboration with the Employment practice. This shows your interest in the role and helps you understand how you can contribute to their success.

✨Be Yourself

Hill Dickinson values diversity and inclusion, so don’t hesitate to let your personality shine through. Share your unique perspective and experiences, as they’re looking for someone who can bring something special to the team.

Associate - Education in Leeds
Hill Dickinson LLP
Location: Leeds

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