In-House Counsel

Salary: c.£85,000 FTE, plus significant fee remission
Part time (20–25 hours per week), all year round
Flexible location

Rugby School Group is seeking to appoint a pragmatic and commercially minded lawyer as In-House Counsel.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role will act as the Group’s principal internal legal adviser, providing clear, proportionate and solutions-focused advice across a broad range of matters. These include contracts, parent terms, employment matters, data protection, governance, complaints, and wider legal risk, alongside coordinating external legal support where required.  The post-holder will also support the Group’s global operations, working with the Group’s external lawyers to draft and agree contracts with overseas partners.

This is a varied role within a growing education group, offering the opportunity to work closely with senior leaders and Governors, while maintaining a high degree of autonomy over your workload.

We are looking for a qualified solicitor with strong judgement, excellent drafting skills and the ability to translate legal advice into practical outcomes. The successful candidate is likely to bring experience in areas such as employment law or charity law, although we would also welcome applications from candidates whose expertise has been developed in other practice areas relevant to the role. Whatever their background, the postholder will need to be interested in developing expertise in education-related matters, including areas such as the Equality Act and the Independent School Standards.

The role is offered on a part-time, flexible basis (20–25 hours per week). The post-holder will be expected to work at least one day per week in Rugby, and at least one other at Rugby or a Group prep school.  The role will suit someone looking for high-quality, varied work in a role that offers greater work / life balance and flexibility than is typically available in private practice.

In addition to salary, benefits include generous fee remission at Rugby School and/or one of the Group’s prep schools where applicable.

For more information and to apply: Please register and complete an application via our recruitment portal which can be found at www.rugbyschool.co.uk/about/employment-opportunities

Closing date: 21 April 2026
First-round interviews (online): 27 April 2026
Second-round interviews (in person): 5 / 6 May 2026

Applications will be considered upon receipt and we reserve the right to make an appointment before the closing date.

Please Note

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are key facets of our core ethos that ‘the Whole Person is the Whole point’. Find out more here: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Rugby School

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or age.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a team of internal recruiters and advertise our vacancies to attract candidates and not agency suppliers. If we need agency assistance, we will reach out to our trusted partners. Any speculative CVs we receive will not be accepted as an introduction.

Charity Registration Number 528752