Legal and related services are provided to the Education Authority (EA) primarily through the EA Legal Services Team which includes:
- Education Authority Solicitors (EA Solicitors)
- Claims and Insurance Unit
While the primary responsibilities of both EA Solicitors and the Claims and Insurance Unit lie with the EA itself, these units also provide legal advice and representation to Controlled Schools, in collaboration with the relevant EA Service.
EA Solicitors also administer and monitor the provision of external legal services to Catholic Maintained Schools, currently under a tender arrangement with two external solicitors’ firms.
Controlled Schools
EA Legal Services will work in partnership with the instructing EA Service to ensure each Controlled School has access to the necessary legal support.
If a Controlled School Principal or Chair of the Board of Governors wishes to access legal advice, they should first speak to an officer within the relevant EA Directorate (see Types of Support and Useful Contacts below).
In the event that legal proceedings are instituted against a Controlled School, EA Solicitors will provide legal services at no cost to the school’s budget provided it has acted reasonably and in line with EA advice and legal advice.
Catholic Maintained Schools
If a Catholic Maintained School Principal or Chair of the Board of Governors wishes to access legal advice, they should first speak to the appropriate officer within CCMS. It may also be appropriate to speak to an officer within the relevant EA Service (see Types of Support and Useful Contacts below).
EA Solicitors provide legal services to individual Catholic Maintained Schools in respect of non-teaching staff, at no cost to the school’s budget. For issues involving teaching staff or non-staff matters, CCMS will arrange for a legal advisor to provide support as needed. The cost of this advice is normally met by EA provided the school has acted reasonably and in line with the advice of CCMS and EA (in the case of non-teaching staff issues) and legal advice.
Other Maintained Schools (Including Irish Medium Schools)
If the Principal or Chair of the Board of Governors of an Other Maintained School (including Irish Medium Schools) wishes to access legal advice, they should speak to an officer within the relevant EA Service (see Types of Support and Useful Contacts below).
EA Solicitors will provide legal services to these schools in respect of non-teaching staff, at no cost to the school’s budget. For issues involving teaching staff or non-staff matters, the school—after consultation with the EA—will arrange for a legal advisor to provide support. The cost of this advice is normally met by EA provided the school has acted reasonably and in line with appropriate advice including legal advice.
Types of Support and Useful Contacts
Controlled and Maintained Schools can initially access advice through various EA services offering guidance on a range of matters, including safeguarding, admissions, exclusions, SEND, and data protection.
- School Admissions: For advice on school admissions, contact the Admissions Helpdesk.
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND): For SEND related matters, contact SEND Central.
- Information Governance: Schools must comply with data protection laws. For advice, contact the Information Governance Service at 028 9047 5011 or email infogov@eani.org.uk.
- Human Resources: For employment-related matters such as contracts, dismissals, and discrimination, contact the EAaskHR Helpdesk.
- School Work Experience: For guidance on pupils’ participation in work experience programmes with external organisations and employers, refer to the School Work Experience Arrangements.
Controlled schools and Irish Medium Schools with urgent queries on complex legal issues may contact EA Solicitors at easolicitors@eani.org.uk. Maintained Schools should contact CCMS at info@ccmsschools.com / telephone 028 9201 3014. Voluntary Grammar Schools and GMI schools should contact their own solicitor.
For a list of EA Services see our A-Z Directory.