At Birkett Long, our education team has advised educational institutions for decades and we are specialists in a broad range of legal areas. The team is able to advise institutions in all the areas where you may require support, including in education law, employment law, property law, construction law, commercial law, corporate law, health and safety, governance, inquiries, data protection and procurement to name but a few. 

Our specialists have experience in working with and in some cases for institutions in the education sector. They use their sector-specific knowledge to ensure you get the best possible advice based on best practice.

Whether you are a nursery or you're looking for legal advice for a school, academy, a multi-academy trust, college or university, Birkett Long will become part of your senior leadership team. We’re always on hand to provide support when required.

We support a range of institutions in the education sector, including:

• Nurseries - Children’s day nurseries in England are regulated by OFSTED. Along with the scrutiny that comes with being regulated, nurseries face the challenge of compliance in a number of legal areas. 
  Health and safety is often closely scrutinised, including the ratio of adults to children. There are also the issues of data protection, food safety laws and employment law to name but a few. The strength and depth of our team means that we can support you with any legal issue that arises.
• Schools - We know that legal issues impacting your school can be complex and a drain on resources. The strength and depth of our team means that we can support you with any legal problem that arises. 
• Academies and multi-academy trusts - We are always looking for ways to support our academy clients and work hard to put ourselves in the shoes of senior management. Importantly, we know that they are constantly balancing finances, governance and regulation, with commitment to students. We want to take some of the pressure off by providing cost-effective ways for institutions to achieve best practice in the education sector and to provide practical and effective solutions to legal and HR requirements.
• Further education colleges - Colleges form an integral part of the education system, be they further education colleges, sixth form colleges or independent specialist colleges. The college sector remains challenging for many and successful colleges need experienced and expert legal advisers who truly understand the further education and sixth form sector.
• Higher education institutions - Higher education institutions (HEIs) must increasingly operate as businesses, while at the same time respect academic freedom and treat students fairly. Our experience and reach allows us to support you with any legal issue that arises, from student complaints to complex HR matters.
• Universities - Our higher education lawyers understand the landscape in which universities operate. Our expertise will help you find practical and innovative solutions to the challenges that you face and assist you to grasp the opportunities available.

In an ever-changing sector, with pressures from a variety of sources, our team of education lawyers ensure that our clients receive cost effective and timely legal advice. 

Some of our clients include:

• University of Essex
•  Writtle University College
• Colchester Institute
• South Essex College
• Colchester Sixth Form College

Recent examples of our education law work

• Advising a school in respect of an inquest and health and safety issues after the death of a child
• Advising an academy on discrimination law and the legal requirement to make reasonable adjustments in the context of a school trip
• Advising a multi academy trust on issues of governance, commercial contracts, data protection, employment law and education law
• Advising Writtle University College in a number of legal areas, including employment law
• Advising the University of Essex in a number of legal areas, including property law and commercial law

Experienced education lawyers

As a result of our team's experience, our education lawyers have a deep understanding of the significant legal and regulatory issues you're facing. 

Some of the services our specialist education solicitors offer help and advice with are:

Schools, academies and multi-academy trusts (MATs)

• Academy conversions
• Academy sponsorships and MATs
• Admissions appeals
• Exclusions
• Commercial contracts
• Construction
• Employment and HR
• Forced academisation
•  Fraud
• Governance
• Health and safety
• Inquests
• Intellectual property
• Land and buildings/property
• Procurement
• School collaborations
• School interventions
• Student/pupil behaviour
• Trading companies

Further and/or higher education

• Academy sponsorship
• Banking
• Commercial services
• Constitutional and governance advice
• Corporate legal services
• Data Protection law
• Dispute resolution and litigation
• Employment and HR
• Finance and funding
• Health and safety
• Intellectual property
•  Mental health
• Procurement
• Property
• Regulatory compliance (including health and safety)
• Student matters

Why choose Birkett Long LLP

We are one of a few firms in Essex with education expertise. We have a proven track record of over 30 years’ experience, providing legal advice to educational institutions, parents and students alike.

Contact our Education team

Contact our education law specialist and Head of Education, Thomas Emmett, on 01245 453847.