Education Law - 10 Things You Didn't Know

Just like in the commercial world, the education sector is bound by laws and regulations. Schools, Colleges, University and other educational establishments are increasing having to rely on legal assistance in order to ensure that the law is adhered to, and to settle disputes.
Education Law solicitors can advise on all legal issues that affect the education sector. Here are 10 of the common issues that Education Law covers.
1. Generating Income
Schools and other educational establishments are looking at different ways to create more income. By complying with education laws, income, and return on investment can be maximised.
2. Compliance
Educational establishments need to comply with discrimination laws and other workers' and pupils' rights. Staff and pupils shouldn't be discriminated against because of their gender, age, skin colour, race, religious beliefs, and sexuality, or for any other reason.
3. Special Eduational Needs
Schools that teach pupils with Special Educational Needs need to ensure that they are fully compliant with the relevant laws. Sometimes there are appeals and tribunals.  And experienced Education Law professional can help either side to ensure that their voice is heard.
4. Grants and Loans
Some schools are fee paying schools, and so contracts will need to created and amended as necessary. In addition, grants and scholarships will need to be distributed evenly, and fairly. If there are any complaints or discrepancies, and Education Law solicitor will be able to help.
5. Interaction with the Private Sector
The education sector is looking at more ways of working with businesses, so that students and graduates have the relevant skills that businesses need. Education Laws ensure that the pupils are not exploited or undervalued.
6. Pupil Behaviour
Pupil behaviour has been increasingly in the news recently, and not always for the right reasons. From truancy to violence in the classroom, Education Law solicitors can advise either party to help achieve a suitable outcome.
7. Intellectual Property Rights
Computer and other technical work is more prevalent in schools and colleges nowadays, and the issue of Intellectual Property is increasingly important. Education Law can help advise on the legalities of work produced at school.
8. Students and Admissions
Popular schools, colleges and universities are often oversubscribed. This often leads to unhappy parents and pupils. Education Law can help ensure that all policies and procedures are followed properly, and that those who have not been admitted haven't been discriminated against.
9. Land and Property
School, Colleges and Universities are increasingly either in need of more land and property, or trying to sell off unused land or property. Education Law makes sure that the acquisition or disposal of land and property is done properly.
10. Accidents at School
Unfortunately accidents at school do happen, and these can sometimes be serious. Pupils and staff have a right to expect that the school buildings and equipment is safe, and there could be grounds for compensation. Accidents whilst at school could include any slips or trips in the playground, or on the sports pitch, as well as incidents in the chemistry laboratory or on a geography field trip. Education Law solicitors help to ensure that cases are dealt with properly.

A Multi-Disciplinary Approach in Law and Legal Education

It need not be emphasized that there is hardly any walk of life or branch of knowledge that does not impact law and legal that does not impact law and legal education and vice-versa. The era in which law was taught as an isolated discipline is long gone. So legal education, if taken seriously, is a confluence of all branches of knowledge. Teaching and learning law with economic, political, historical philosophical life science, technological and other such perspectives and reading them through legal perspective is one of the greatest challenges that universities in general and law universities and department in particular need to meet in earnest.

For example, learning how to write a patent requires law students to learn various nuances of science and technology, while a basic understanding of architecture is requisite for providing of architecture is requisite for providing legal advice to the construction industry.

Beside, the current global financial crisis is a clear illustration as to how a law student need to understand not only law but also banking systems, fundamentals of financing, accounting project designing and much more.

A law student has to face the challenges of global world. And as the profession becomes more and more global, it becomes imperative to understand the historical, political and economic foundations and dimensions of the functioning of global institutions. But then, how well are our law schools equipped to shoulder this responsibility? And is the curricular or the courses adequate?

Therefore, the lack of faculty trained in multiple disciplines and without varying professional experiences on one side and the non- availability of resources and infrastructure required on the other become issues of prime importance.

FINDING COMPETENT FACULTY

The problem o finding competent faculty can be met, albeit temporarily, if senior members of the bar take sabbatical leave to be on university campuses for four to six weeks a year on a rotational basis.

Their presence on these campuses would bring new dimensions and richness to the teaching, learning and research. Further, it would also help the faculty to draw on their expertise for updating revising and introducing new courses and curriculum. Their presence would be motivating and inspiring for the aspiring lawyers. If a senior advocate or a judge takes a two-months sabbatical every three years to help the law schools, they would help further the cause of legal education in the country. Beside, they owe it to the profession and to themselves as part of the legal fraternity.