The Education employment team has established a reputation as advisers to many Higher Education Institution (HEIs), Colleges and training establishments and we pride ourselves on providing practical and commercial solutions for our education clients on the whole spectrum of employment and HR matters.
This has been achieved by:
Commitment: Our team is dedicated to providing specialised tailored advice to suit the particular challenges and demands faced by higher education institutions in employment and HR related matters. Our determination to provide you with advice of the highest calibre is evidenced by our unique provision of a specialist employment team.
Sector knowledge: We have an enviable grasp and understanding of all features of an education institution that make it different from a work place in commerce or industry. We are mindful of concepts proprietary, transparency and accountability. Education employment law is a specialist discipline with many institutions being regulated in the areas of recruitment, management and dismissal. We are nationally recognised experts in advising on these issues.
Our service: Our service is based on sector specific precedents, is proactive in ensuring education institutions re up to date and is focused on high levels of service delivery. We are considered part of our client's team.
Specialised lawyers: Over the years we have built a team of highly qualified employment lawyers who have unrivalled experience of working with education clients. Our senior lawyers are frequent speakers at conferences and are widely published in the press.
Practical advice: We are well-known for finding pragmatic and commercial solutions backed by intellectual rigour and a high level of technical competence.
Additional support: Our lawyers travel all over the country to meet managers and decision makers and provide speakers at training seminars and briefings.
We also produce regular, free-of-charge legal updates by email which have proved very popular and an invaluable and timely update.
Sector-specific advice
The following are examples of advice and assistance we have provided to our higher and further education clients:
Advising a University on the incorporation of its student union including TUPE and pension issues
Advising HEIs on everyday employment law issues and Tribunal proceedings involving equal pay and race discrimination
Advising HEIs and colleges on:
- redundancies of lecturers
- the operation of fixed term contracts for lecturers and visiting lecturers
- contracts for lecturing and support staff - drafting and/or advising on
- staff manuals, policies and procedures - drafting and/or advising on
- governance issues and the inter-relationship between College Councils and Trustee Boards
- student and staff accommodation issues
- dismissals
- disciplinary and performance issues, grievances and work place fall outs
- employment litigation covering a multiple of employment rights including fixed term and part time working, discrimination, equal pay, dismissal and breach of contract
- strategic employment advice in relation to staffing objectives and the use of Collaborative Agreements for the joint use of staff and resources
- recruitment and the establishment of a framework agreement for the provision of recruitment services including temporary workers and the implications for the forthcoming 2010 regulations
- Compliance with Sex, Race & Disability Equality Schemes.
The team also regularly advise many public sector bodies and commercial organisations.
