Legal Connect

How can Legal Connect help you?

Legal Connect can assess the allegations and potential claims, review the underlying HR process, identify procedural, discrimination or whistleblowing risks, consider likely remedies and costs, and advise whether informal resolution, continued management action, negotiated settlement or defence of potential proceedings is the most appropriate strategy. We can also advise on negotiation strategy, liaise with ACAS on your behalf and represent your interests throughout the conciliation process 

How can Legal Connect help you?

Where settlement is agreed, Legal Connect can draft or review the COT3 before the terms are confirmed through ACAS. We will ensure that the document accurately records the intended outcome, protects your school or trust’s position and addresses the practical steps needed to conclude the matter 

How can Legal Connect help you?

Legal Connect can support you from the earliest consideration of settlement through to completion. We can provide an independent assessment of the legal and commercial position, review the process followed and any potential claims, advise on alternatives and negotiation strategy, support protected or without prejudice discussions where appropriate, negotiate terms on your behalf, and draft or review the Settlement Agreement.

For academy trusts, we can also provide the documented legal assessment that may be needed to support informed governance and decision-making under the updated Academy Trust Handbook before entering into a settlement agreement.

Our approach is practical and proportionate, helping you reach clear and workable terms while ensuring that any decision to settle is informed by an appropriate assessment of risk, cost, alternatives and school or trust priorities 

How can Legal Connect help you?

Legal Connect provides clear, practical and legally focused advice designed to support informed decision‑making by headteachers, chief executive officers, trustees and governance committees. Our review can help you understand and reduce risk, identify proportionate next steps and document the legal and commercial considerations underpinning your school or trust’s chosen approach 

Legal Connect provides practical, education-focused legal training for schools and academy trusts. Sessions can be commissioned as standalone briefings, detailed masterclasses, leadership workshops or tailored programmes for HR teams, senior leaders, trustees and governors.