School Solicitor

The Westgate School, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 5AH

29 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  to be confirmed

• Closing date

  23 October 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  24 September 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time, full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £59,730.00 - £69,509.00 Annually (FTE) NJC Level 9/10 Points 45-53

School Solicitor job summary

School Solicitor - Employment & Litigation

2.5 days per week or equivalent hours

The postholder will act as the school’s in-house legal representative, advising senior leaders and managers, managing disputes and litigation, and representing the school where appropriate. The role requires a solicitor with strong employment law expertise, excellent advocacy and case management skills, and the ability to provide clear, pragmatic advice in a busy educational environment.

Employment Law
Provide day-to-day legal advice to the school on all aspects of employment law.
Advise Trust Leaders and HR on complex and sensitive employment matters.
Advise on disciplinary, grievance, capability, sickness absence, performance management and dismissal processes.
Advise on redundancy, restructuring, TUPE and organisational change.
Advise on discrimination, whistleblowing, equalities and protected characteristic issues.
Review and advise on employment contracts, policies, procedures, settlement agreements and other employment documentation.
Support the school in managing employment disputes and potential claims.
Assess legal risk and recommend appropriate strategies to minimise exposure to claims.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Manage and conduct litigation and other contentious matters on behalf of the school.
Represent the school in employment tribunals and, where appropriate, other courts, tribunals, hearings and formal proceedings.
Prepare pleadings, statements, witness evidence, legal submissions and other documentation.
Conduct negotiations, settlement discussions and mediations.
Liaise with external solicitors, barristers, insurers and other professional advisers where specialist external representation is required.

Maintain effective oversight of litigation strategy, deadlines, costs and risk.

Representation of the School

Act as an authorised legal representative of the school in appropriate employment and litigation matters.
Attend hearings, meetings, investigations, mediations and other proceedings on behalf of the school.
Provide legal support and representation to senior leaders and managers where required.
Ensure the school’s interests are properly protected throughout disputes and legal proceedings.
Maintain professional and effective relationships with external legal representatives and other relevant organisations.

General Legal Support
Identify legal risks arising from the school’s activities and provide practical recommendations.
Advise on matters arising from the school’s policies, procedures and operational activities where these have an employment or litigation element.
Work closely with Trust Leaders and HR as appropriate.
Ensure legal advice is accurate, proportionate and understandable to non-lawyers.
Maintain appropriate records of legal matters, advice and litigation.
Keep up to date with relevant changes in employment law, case law and education-related legal requirements.
Contribute to the development of robust governance, policies and procedures.

Tours of the school are welcome.

What To Know Before Applying:

• Generous Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Holiday pay included in all salaries.
• We reserve the right to interview as suitable applications are received.
• The Westgate School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
• All staff are expected to be aware of and follow the 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' advice and guidance.

The Westgate School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate must be willing to undertake child protection screening, including an Enhanced DBS check, Children's Barred List check, online and past employer checks. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. We are an equal opportunities employer under the provision of the Equality Act 2010. The school reserves the right to withdraw this vacancy should the anticipated staffing vacancy not arise.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About The Westgate School

• Organisation type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• Size: 1273 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: The Westgate School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-westgate-school-sl1-5ah

The Westgate School prides itself on our commitment in ensuring every student is '#equippedforlife'. This is at the heart of what we do to ensure that students have every opportunity to thrive during their time at school and beyond.

We are a nourishing and highly supportive school and offer a bespoke CPD training package for new members of staff, irrespective of their background or experience. Ultimately, we ensure each member of staff feels valued and well supported at every phase of their career.

School location

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