Schools & Education
Educational institutions are in the business of shaping lives and culture. Watchful, prudent legal allies are essential to ensure the smooth running of these communities.
How we help
We are committed to intentional listening, our lawyers will plan a strategy that fits your purpose, considering both the needs of those you serve and the safeguards required to protect your educational community.
Our team prove our commitment to building great educational institutions through their contribution to the governance of school, college and higher education boards. This means they are acutely aware of the current issues facing you, be it discrimination, employment, wrongful use of social media, stakeholder disputes, tax concessions, governance, legal structures for your next campus or revenue raising.
What we do
Education providers need prompt, accurate answers. We usually respond on a “same day” basis during business hours (often straight away) and embrace technology to serve you – even if you aren’t nearby. Our experienced school & education lawyers can video conference with you, meeting your needs just as we would if you were around the corner. Our costing is careful and regularly communicated. Our solutions are tailored to the level of risk being managed and the ability of your institution to do some of the work in-house to lower your legal spend.
Registration And Endorsement As Charities
Educational institutions may be for profit or not for profit.
To be exempt from tax, non profit educational institutions in Australia need to be registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and endorsed as charitable by the ATO.
Endorsements need to be reviewed annually by the educational institution to ensure that the institution is still entitled to those endorsements.
Additional endorsements (registrations) are usually required under State-based stamp duty and land tax legislation.
Common School Law Issues For Schools & Educational Institutions
In addition to the not for profit tax endorsement issues the education sector faces a series of legal issues which require not just good legal advice but legal advice that thoroughly understands the educational context.
Our school & education lawyers understand and regularly advise educational bodies on:
- Tax concessions
- DGR funds
- ACNC compliance
- Accreditation and registration issues
- Enrolment contracts and processes
- Debt recovery
- Discrimination
- Employment and collective agreements
- Governance
- Legal structures
- Constitutions
- Property (acquisitions, disposals, leasing, licensing, easements)
- Charitable trusts
- Leasing, licensing and hire arrangements
- Risk management & insurance
- Sensitive information and mandatory reporting obligations
- Complaint handling
- Excluding disruptive parents from school premises
- Family law issues
- Privacy law issues
- ATO reviews and audits
Free Webinars
Are you a school leader or college executive?
We offer a range of free webinars for those in leadership of educational institutions. View tailored webinars for principals, executive team and college board members, to name a few.
School & Education Law Review
We discuss the latest school issues in a quarterly newsletter for schools and colleges. Read through our archives of our schools and college law review electronic publication.