Wrigleys advise on issues that matter to your students' union

Students' unions face a variety of unique legal challenges, operating within the constraints of both charity law and the Education Act 1994.

Our specialist knowledge of the law applying to students' unions

Wrigleys are one of the few law firms in the country with dedicated lawyers working exclusively for charity and social economy clients. We act for students' unions all over England and Wales and our team of solicitors includes a former sabbatical officer of the University of Bristol Union and a previous member of the Appointments and Governance Committee at Leeds University Union. This means we have first-hand experience of the students' union sector and the key legal issues that trustees and staff face.

How can we help your students’ union?

We support over 50 students’ unions with their legal needs, advising on everything from governance and employment law to property, data protection and commercial arrangements.

Our experience and the areas of work where we can help students' unions include the following:

Incorporations and governance

Converting unincorporated students' unions to incorporated legal entities (including advice on SUSS).
Review of constitutions, bye-laws and policies.
Ultra vires issues.
Trustee duties and conflicts of interest.
Union elections.
Trading and use of trading subsidiaries.
Incorporating students' unions as separate charities, independent of the parent university.
Mergers of students' unions.
Trustee training.

Employment law issues

Disciplinary issues regarding all employees, including sabbatical officers.
Dealing with allegations of sexual harassment and assault.
Settlement agreements.
Drafting employment contracts including fixed term sabbatical agreements.
Fixed price employment support and helpline through our HR Response package.

Pensions law issues

Managing triggering pensions liabilities on incorporations and mergers.
Managing liabilities in the Students’ Union Superannuation Scheme.
Advice in respect of public service pension schemes (e.g. local government pension scheme).
Auto-enrolment (and re-enrolment) queries.
Providing advice in respect of other pensions issues (e.g. ill health retirement etc.).

Student activities

Status of clubs and societies within a students' union.
Reviewing model constitutions for clubs and societies.
Political campaigning and lobbying.
Complaints made by student members against their university or students' union.
Assisting with representations to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.

Other specialisms

Data protection and implications of GDPR.
Data sharing agreements between universities and students' unions.
Students' rights as consumers, including in relation to university staff strike action.
Commercial contracts.
Pensions issues, including SUSS.

For further information, please feel free to contact us or subscribe to our dedicated termly students’ union newsletter for the latest news and information.

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