Education law solicitors
We support universities, colleges, academies, schools and independent education providers with clear, practical legal advice. Our advice is commercial, pragmatic and in plain English.
In short
Ansons Solicitors acts for universities, colleges, academies, schools, educational trusts and sector charities. We advise on student and academic matters, information law and data protection, governance and commercial work, employment and intellectual property. We also handle property and estate management. We can work as an extension of an in-house legal team, giving specialist advice or extra capacity. To speak to our education law solicitors, use the enquiry form on this page.
How we help education providers
- Student and academic matters
- Information law and data protection
- Corporate, governance and commercial
- Employment law for the education sector
- Intellectual property and brand protection
- Property, estates and construction
Who we work with
We work closely with higher and further education institutions, academies, schools and sector charities.
Our approach is collaborative, acting as an extension of in-house teams to provide specialist advice or additional capacity when it is needed most.
Student and academic matters
Our education solicitors advise on every aspect of the student journey, from admissions to graduation.
We help institutions manage policies and procedures, student contracts, complaints, appeals, disciplinary and fitness-to-practise cases, as well as CMA and OfS compliance.
We also support clients through complex issues such as misconduct investigations, accommodation disputes and OIA complaints.
Information law and data protection
We advise on data protection, GDPR, Freedom of Information and the Environmental Information Regulations.
Our team assists with policy drafting, breach management, data audits, third-party requests and ICO reporting.
We also offer tailored data protection and FOI training for in-house legal and academic teams and can provide retainer-based support for ongoing compliance.
Corporate, governance and commercial
Our corporate team supports education providers with everything from governance and registration to commercial transactions.
We advise on mergers, joint ventures and group restructures, as well as drafting commercial agreements, student contracts and research or collaboration arrangements. Our work runs from OfS registration to procurement and state aid.
The team is listed in The Legal 500 UK 2026 corporate and commercial ranking (elsewhere in the West Midlands, Tier 2).
Employment law for the education sector
Our employment team provides straightforward, commercially focused advice to universities, schools and academies.
We cover all aspects of employment law including documentation, tribunal representation and bespoke training.
For clients seeking certainty on costs, our Ansons On Call retainer provides ongoing access to legal advice, policy health checks and support with grievances, disciplinaries and redundancies.
Intellectual property and brand protection
We help universities and colleges protect, manage and exploit their intellectual property, from research outcomes to institutional branding.
Our lawyers advise on licensing, collaboration and infringement disputes including copyright, trademarks and patents.
We also help resolve conflicts quickly and cost-effectively when breaches occur.
Property, estates and construction
Ansons acts for universities, colleges and educational trusts in all aspects of property and estate management.
Our property team handles acquisitions, leases, planning agreements and development projects, ensuring transactions are efficient and compliant.
We also advise on student accommodation, green energy initiatives and property disputes such as dilapidations, rent recovery and lease terminations.
Why choose Ansons
- Practical understanding of governance, regulation and compliance
- Advice across student, employment, data and property matters
- A cross-disciplinary team spanning corporate, commercial and regulatory law
- Can act as an extension of your in-house legal team
- Straightforward communication and proactive, solution-focused support
Questions about education law
Who do your education law solicitors act for?
We act for universities, colleges, academies, schools, educational trusts, independent education providers and sector charities.
Can you support our in-house legal team?
Yes. We can act as an extension of your in-house team, providing specialist advice or additional capacity when it is needed. We also offer retainer-based data protection support and the Ansons On Call employment retainer.
Do you advise on OfS and CMA compliance?
Yes. We advise institutions on CMA and OfS compliance as part of our student and academic work and on OfS registration as part of our corporate and governance work.
Accreditations and awards
The Legal 500 UK 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Nachural Summer Business Awards 2024: winner
East Midlands Rainmaker Awards 2025: shortlisted
Talk to our education team
Tell us what you need and we will put you in touch with the right person.