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Legal services for schools and academies

Last updated on 17 January 2024

Education legal helpline for schools and academies

Tel: 01992 556000

We have a dedicated legal helpline for schools to access advice on any problem to do with running a school from a lawyer. The cost of a subscription is set out below.

Requests for advice can be made by telephone, email or fax.

It is open from 8:45am to 5:00pm and:

  • gives a 24 hour callback guarantee if your problem cannot be answered immediately
  • can arrange for verbal advice to be confirmed in writing (on request)
  • undertakes initial correspondence with third parties including other solicitors. Areas of advice may include parental disputes, complaints, employment issues, contractual issues, freedom of information etc.
  • if the matter is not a one off piece of advice then advice can be provided on an ongoing basis which is charged out at an hourly rate

The benefits for schools are that:

  • schools will comply with the law
  • readily available practical advice can be given to deal with problems as they arise
  • the service can be used to gain information about changes in the law which affect you
  • advice is provided by a lawyer with experience in education law and practice
  • the service is highly cost effective when compared with the cost of legal services from the private sector

Purchase the service

An annual charge for subscription to the helpline will be charged and is calculated as follows:

Charge

  • £25 for the 1st 150 pupils
  • £30 for the next 50 (i.e. 150 - 200 pupils)
  • and £5 for each additional 25 pupils thereafter

The calculation will be based on the information available form the School Census.

Amount of service provided for the subscription fee

  • if you have 0-250 pupils then your subscription will entitle you to a maximum of 3 calls or 30 minutes (whichever you meet first) of advice before you pay at the hourly rate.
  • if you have 250-500 pupils then your subscription will entitle you to a maximum of 3 calls or 45 minutes of advice (whichever you meet first) before you pay at the hourly rate.
  • if you have 500-750 pupils then your subscription will entitle you to a maximum of 3 calls or 60 minutes of advice (whichever you meet first) before you pay at the hourly rate.
  • if you have 750 + pupils then your then your subscription will entitle you to a maximum of 3 calls or 90 minutes of advice (whichever you meet first) before you pay at the hourly rate.

If counsel is instructed the school or academy will be responsible for paying counsel's fees. Disbursements (e.g. court fees) are not included in the charges mentioned above and must be paid by the school or academy.

Once your subscription has been used or if it appears that the work required is substantial the charge in relation to the advice provided on these matters which is not covered the education helpline is £90 per hour.

Please note that academies are liable for VAT on the services that they purchase from Legal Services

In addition with regards more specific areas of law:

Last updated on 17 January 2024