£42,839 - £47,181 per annum

Education Lawyer (special educational needs)

Are you a qualified lawyer, with the right attitude who wishes to become an accomplished education law practitioner. If you are that individual, we would strongly encourage you to contact Mr Leigh Middleton (Principal Lawyer) to discuss the exciting opportunity below.

The role
Consistent with all local authorities, Lincolnshire has seen an increase in the number of appeals to the SEN Tribunal.  We are seeking to appoint an Education Lawyer to primarily assist in the management the appeals case load although there will also be an opportunity to provide assistance to colleagues providing general education law advice to schools and the local authority.  The role may also provide the successful candidate with an opportunity to clerk School Admission Appeals and Independent Review Panels following a decision to permanently exclude a child.

You will need to have or wish to develop a keen interest in education law in general and special educational needs in particular.  We have a collaborative working relationship with the SEND team and the post holder will be critical in terms of maintaining and developing that relationship.

The role will require a high level of organisational, time and case management skills and you must be able to demonstrate you can balance managing a number of cases and Tribunal deadlines simultaneously .  The successful candidate will also be responsible for conducting advocacy in the SEN Tribunal and must therefore possess a confident level of advocacy skills.

About you
You will be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive and authorised to conduct litigation under the Legal Services Act 2007.

What we offer
We care about our staff and want you to enjoy a healthy work life balance. In return, we can offer:

Working in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a great place to live and work. Lincoln has an impressive castle and cathedral, with the medieval quarter providing a striking contrast to the lively and youthful feel of this university city. If you are looking for an opportunity to work in a beautiful city with a great team of colleagues, look no further. This is an excellent opportunity to join a welcoming and supportive team.

Interested?
If you would like an open and informal discussion about the role, please contact:

Mr Leigh Middleton, Principal Lawyer, Education, Employment & Prosecutions Team

Tel: 07825 357875

Email: leigh.middleton@lincolnshire.gov.uk

If this sounds like the exciting new challenge you have been looking for, we would be delighted to hear from you.

PLEASE NOTE: It is imperative that your personal statement clearly states why you have applied, how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role as set out in the Job Description (attached on LCC jobs Site) and what you feel you can bring to this role, the team and the wider County Council.

On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward. 

We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

A Smarter Working Employer
We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary.  Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.

Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.

Fluency Duty 
In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Our values – collaborative, adaptable, eco-conscious, supportive, and responsible – guide everything we do. We’re looking for candidates who share these values and bring them to life in their work, helping us build strong teams and make a real difference in the communities we serve.

Closing date: 1 March 2026

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.