Specialist Education Law Solicitors for the Education Sector

At Warners Solicitors, we provide comprehensive legal support tailored to the specific needs of schools, academies, multi-academy trusts, and independent institutions. With a depth of experience advising the education sector, our solicitors understand the unique legal challenges, complex governance and operational issues that the education sector faces.

Whether you are navigating staffing issues, managing parental complaints or negotiating commercial contracts,  our education law specialists offer practical, prompt, and reliable advice grounded in deep sector knowledge.

We work in close partnership with:

– Academies  and Multi-Academy trusts
– Free schools
– Foundation schools and voluntary schools
– Grammar schools
– Local authority-maintained schools/ community schools
– Private schools
– Faith schools
– Special schools

Our education solicitors are trusted by school leaders and governors for their clear, solution-focused legal guidance. We support both day-to-day operational needs and more complex legal matters, allowing education professionals to stay focused on learning and leadership

Key Areas of Legal Support for the Education Sector Include:

We will work collaboratively with you in the following areas:

• School and Academy Mergers – Guiding schools and academies through the complexities of merging with others

• Employment Law Support – Advising on employment disputes and tribunal claims, handling internal procedures such as performance management, disciplinary and grievances, managing staff exits and settlement agreements, discrimination, TUPE with outsourcing and in-sourcing, restructuring and reorganisations, redundancies, handbooks, policies and procedures, staff management and training.

• Property Matters – Assisting with acquisitions, sales, and leases of land and property and general premises support.

• Data Protection and Freedom of Information – Ensuring compliance with data protection law, supporting and advising on subject access requests and Freedom of Information Act requests.

• Parental Complaints and Disputes – Providing guidance on handling complaints and disputes involving parents and guardians.
• Debt collection – working with you to recover debts owed to you.

• Commercial contracts and service agreements – drafting and reviewing your commercial contracts, resolving disputes and protecting intellectual property.

• Litigated disputes – covering a range of matters.

Knowledge Sharing

We believe that staying informed is crucial for educational institutions to navigate legal challenges effectively. Our training initiatives provide schools, academies, and MATs with up-to-date legal insights and practical guidance. We provide the following:

• UpdatEd Webinar Series – We provide regular free legal webinars on topical issues specifically for the education sector.
• Workplace Live Events – We facilitate in-person discussions on employment law with HR professionals and industry experts.
• Legal Articles & Thought Leadership – We provide regular contributions to key education publications, ensuring our clients stay informed of the latest legal developments.

Collaboration & Community Engagement

We actively engage with our local education community and clients by attending careers fairs to support students in exploring legal careers. Recent events we have participated in include:

• Judd School Careers Fair
• Kent University Law Fair
• Knowle Academy Careers Fair
• Leigh Academy Tonbridge Careers Fair
• Oasis Academy Careers Day
• Sevenoaks School Careers Fair
• University of Sussex Careers Fair
• Tonbridge Grammar School Career Day

Sector Expertise & Industry Recognition

• Extensive Experience – Advising schools, academies, and MATs on HR and employment matters.
• Expert Handling of Subject Access Requests (SARs) – Ensuring compliance with data protection law.
• Leadership in the Education Sector – Many staff volunteer as trustees and governors of education establishments, providing invaluable insight into the challenges faced by them.
• Participation in Leadership Programmes – Engaging in initiatives like the Medway Leadership Programme to foster leadership excellence in education.
• Education Sector Team Leadership – Louise Brenlund heads up the education team. Louise has a keen interest in the education sector and has worked with maintained, independent, and faith schools, as well as single and multi-academy trusts. She also volunteered as a governor at a UTC and is currently a Trustee at the Rivermead Inclusive Trust, a role she has held for over four years.

Articles

• Gender Definition – The key implications of the Supreme Court judgement for trusts and schools

How We Can Help Your School or Trust

Whether you need support with employment law, policy drafting, tribunal claims, or strategic HR decisions, our team at Warners Solicitors is here to help. We are committed to delivering practical, cost-effective, and proactive legal solutions for the education sector.

Contact our Education Sector Team to discuss your legal needs.

Frequently Asked Questions about Legal Support for The Education Sector