Regional Solicitor

REGIONAL SOLICITOR

Based in the NEU South East region (Haywards Heath, RH17 3SN)

Permanent, part-time (3 days per week)

Commencing salary £66,078 per annum pro-rata (rising to £70,881 per annum pro-rata)

The National Education Union is a force for change in the world of education, bringing together more than 500,000 teachers, lecturers, support staff and leaders working in maintained and independent schools and colleges across the UK.

Whatever the future holds the NEU is convinced that by building strong workplace organisation we can transform our education system so that it works for all students and all educators. We have ambitious plans and we are seeking a significant number of staff to support us in this work. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in empowering educators and driving meaningful change in workplaces across local authorities and multi-academy trusts. If you are a solicitor with a commitment to social justice and to advancing rights at work, and you would like to join the NEU's network of employment solicitors who provide the legal advice to our members that does just that, read on.

The NEU has a network of employment solicitors across its regional, Wales and the NEU'S head office. The role they play in advising members is a key component of the NEU's work in representing educators and driving change. At a time when employment law is changing, and both individuals and trade unions are beginning to explore the new rights provided by the Employment Rights Act, we stand ready to push forward the NEU's aims by applying our legal expertise.

We are now seeking to recruit a Regional Solicitor to join our team in the NEU South East region on a part time basis of 21 hours per week. The work of the Regional Solicitor will focus on providing employment law advice to the Regional Office team and advice and representation to members.

We would like to hear from employment lawyers with demonstrable litigation experience and strong advocacy skills to work as part of the professional team of staff at our NEU South East region office, providing advice and information on legal issues affecting education professionals.

The successful Regional Solicitor will also be asked to contribute to written materials including Union documents aimed at members and to the training of local officers. This post is ideally suited to motivated individuals who wishes to extend their employment law experience within a trade union environment.

As an NEU Regional Solicitor, you will be managing your own caseload; have good all-round communications skills, and the ability to relate to people with different backgrounds and needs both inside and outside the Union, together with an understanding of the needs and characteristics of a democratic membership organisation.

Prospective applicants are also advised that your normal place of work will be the NEU office specified in this advert and that the NEU operates 'Blended Working Arrangements' for office-based staff, which means you will typically need to be based in the designated NEU office for 3 days a week (based on a full-time contract), with the remaining days based at home, and subject to business needs and applicants invited to interview will be able to discuss this further, at that stage of the process.

In addition to salary, we offer good conditions including a commencing salary of £66,078; 35 days' annual leave plus Christmas closure days and a generous paid family leave and pension scheme. Salary and benefits will be pro-rata for part-time applicants.

Further details can be downloaded from our website via the button below, where applicants will also be able to complete an online application on our recruitment portal, by the stated closing date of mid-day Wednesday 9th September 2026.

THE UNION IS FUNDAMENTALLY COMMITTED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN ITS POLICIES AND PRACTICE