Solicitor – Schools & Charities (Employment)

Our client is seeking a qualified Solicitor or Legal Executive to join our Schools & Charities Team , specialising in Employment Law , at their Guildford office. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a nationally recognised team delivering specialist legal advice to independent schools and charitable organisations .

The role offers direct involvement in a variety of legal matters including employment, education, governance, and safeguarding – with scope to build a long-term career in a supportive, people-focused environment.

Key Responsibilities

Provide employment and HR advice including contracts, staff handbooks, conduct issues, redundancy, discrimination, and the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) Advise schools on education law issues involving pupils and parents, including safeguarding, complaints, and special educational needs. Assist in matters of governance and compliance , including constitution updates and conflict of interest training.

Work on mergers, acquisitions , and TUPE matters related to school operations Collaborate with colleagues across employment, property, and charity law Manage your own caseload with appropriate supervision and training Engage with clients empathetically, providing practical legal solutions tailored to the education and charity sectors.

Requirements

Qualified Solicitor or Legal Executive with employment law experience Education law experience is desirable but not essential Ideally suited to candidates between NQ – 3 PQE (although PQE is not the sole indicator of suitability) Excellent communication skills with a calm, proactive and adaptable approach A genuine interest in supporting schools and charitable organisations Team-oriented with the drive to grow professionally and contribute to a collaborative, high-performing team Benefits 28 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays) Private medical insurance Generous pension and life assurance Firm-wide bonus scheme Income protection Supportive and inclusive culture Career development in a firm where people come first