Principal Lawyer - Education

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Staffordshire County Council is looking for an experienced senior lawyer to be a subject matter expert and principal solicitor in our Education and SEND team. This is an exciting opportunity to grow and develop the team while helping to shape its future direction. You will oversee the delivery of legal services within the team and provide complex legal and procurement advice across all Council departments.

We are a forward‑thinking, modern authority known for our strong financial management and we encourage our employees to be bold and innovative in their work. Our legal department consists of 100 dedicated lawyers and support staff, and we offer a diverse and rewarding caseload that allows you to apply your expertise in managing a range of complex legal matters.

• Providing complex legal advice to the internal client on various matters, especially focused on SEND issues.
• Leading, mentoring, and developing the existing Education and SEND team to ensure ongoing high performance and expertise in this area.
• Responding to and managing a caseload of education‑related judicial reviews and other complex matters.

We are looking for you to be a qualified Chartered Legal Executive (with practice/advocacy rights), Solicitor or Barrister with proven experience in Education law and a particular specialism in SEND matters.

• Significant experience in a legal environment, with the ability to manage complex casework.
• Strong mentoring and training qualities to support the progression and development of junior members of staff and professional growth.
• Excellent communication skills, able to engage clearly and confidently across verbal, written, and digital platforms.
• Ability to draft complex legal documents and provide accurate, high‑quality advice.

Don’t feel you meet all the requirements? We value transferable skills, experiences, and qualifications, so consider applying anyway or contact Robin Longhurst, Deputy Legal Services Manager,  for an informal chat about the role.

Interviews will be held: week commencing 2 February 2026.

We would also be happy to consider flexible working.

We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.

We are no ordinary county council.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice, and they sit at the heart of our People Strategy. We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people.

We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future. We look forward and race ahead – that goes for your career too.

We recognise that our employees are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where staff can achieve their full potential and maintain a healthy work‑life balance.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and a Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities. As part of our commitment to supporting care leavers and our status as a Gold Award Armed Forces employer, we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.