Schools and academies

Birkett Long is a well-recognised highly-ranked law firm with decades of experience of providing legal advice and support to schools and academy trusts. We have advised schools and trusts in Essex and beyond, and have developed a particular interest in academy projects, including academy formation and growth.

Schools and academies – and their owners, proprietors and sponsors – are tasked with providing first-class education within a legal framework that can feel extremely fluid. Our solicitors are education sector experts who are able to bring practical solutions to all types of schools, advising on all types of challenges.

Our education team also contains experts in all the legal areas that are likely to be relevant to you, and we have access to a full range of other specialisms within our firm. Alongside education law we can help you with employment law, property and construction, human resources, health and safety, regulatory matters, commercial law, corporate law and dispute resolution. At Birkett Long our lawyers are specialists and each one is dedicated to providing the best service for their clients.

 We are always looking for ways to support our clients and try hard to put ourselves in your shoes. Importantly, we know that you need to balance finance, governance and regulation, while prioritising your commitment to your students - and we realise the challenges that can bring.

As a highly-ranked provider of legal and HR services, we can provide a comprehensive range of services including:

  • Academy conversions
  • Challenges to Ofsted inspections
  • Commercial contract law
  • Construction and capital projects
  • Data protection
  • Employment and human resource issues
  • Governance
  • Health and safety
  • Intellectual property
  • Procurement for academy trusts
  • Pupil behaviour and school exclusions
  • Safeguarding and child protection
  • School admissions and admissions’ appeals
  • School land and buildings
  • School collaborations
  • Special educational needs and disability matters
  • Supporting schools with coroners’ inquests
  • Trading companies

We aim to relieve some of the pressure by providing cost-effective ways for education institutions to achieve best practice in the sector and by providing practical and effective solutions to your legal and HR requirements. Our fixed fee retainers include:

The education team at Birkett Long provides a proactive and responsive service. We give practical, commercial, well thought through advice based on expert opinion, and we don’t sit on the fence! If you would like to talk to us about how we can help, please contact Thomas Emmett, Head of Education, on 01245 453847 or email thomas.emmett@birkettlong.co.uk.