The College of Legal Practice is an accredited postgraduate Law School based in the UK. Established in 2018, it was formed as a wholly-owned UK subsidiary of The College of Law in Australia which, unlike any of its competitors, is a not-for-profit provider of professional legal education and a market leader for lawyer qualification and training. Over the last 20 years, thousands of students have passed through The College of Law in Australia and progressed to enter top law institutions around the world. The College of Legal Practice is now extending its expertise and delivering the same esteemed modular and online practice-based legal training to students and organisations in the UK. In 2021, the College successfully secured probationary New Degree Awarding Powers, awarded by the Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of higher education in England.

The College of Legal Practice offers flexible learning, working with partners, businesses and students to deliver tailor-made courses which work for them. The College offers learning which is designed for real-life practice where modules are designed to give a more holistic skillset to prepare its students for the workplace. Through its ownership model, it offers low-cost, high-value courses, making them highly competitive. Many of its supervisors are not just academics but practicing solicitors with a passion for teaching, giving students direct access to practitioners.

The College's purpose is to help legal professionals reach their unique potential whilst its mission and vision is to develop excellent legal professionals through personalised, flexible learning and to become the go-to professional practice provider throughout ones legal career. It's an exciting time for the College. As it looks forward, its key priorities in the coming years are to double its student numbers from 500 to 1,000 and to become a fully-fledged university, regulated by the OfS. It will also maintain a focus on delivery and maintenance of excellence.

Responsibilities of the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee are as follows:  

• Report to the Board on the adequacy of the College's internal control framework, including financial and non-financial controls and management of risks.
• Ensure that risks are being addressed appropriately through internal scrutiny
• Review the audited annual report and financial statements

In addition, this person will also be a Non-Executive Director (NED). The Board oversees the strategic development of the College and ensures the effective use of resources and the general solvency of the organisation. The role of a NED is wide ranging, contributing to the governance of the College, overseeing investment and financial matters and legislative responsibilities.

The College of Legal Practice seeks a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee who will bring appropriate financial, audit and risk expertise. They will provide guidance and oversight as the College embarks on a period of growth and looks towards ensuring its long-term sustainability and resilience. They will advise on the College's strategic development, planning and investment.

The successful candidate will bring senior strategic-level experience in financial and business management. They could be a Finance Director/CFO, an Audit Parter in a Big Four organisation or a Chair of Finance and Audit, for example. They will have a commercial mindset and understand the constraints of a SME. A financial qualification isn't essential for this role. Although prior non-executive experience isn't necessary, some chairing experience would be advantageous. This could be from chairing meetings, rather than a full Committee or Board.

Applicants will need to be completely committed to the values, mission and vision of the College. They will be passionate about the power of education and committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion.

To find out more about the Board, please see here.   

The Board meets six times per year and the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) meets four times per year. Meetings are normally held at 8.30am to coincide with availability from NEDs based in Australia. Most meetings are held virtually but some will be held in person in London. The appointment is for a three-year term, renewable once. The role is remunerated with £20,000 per annum. Reasonable, pre-agreed expenses will be reimbursed.

Candidates will be UK-based and whilst most meetings are held online, there will be an expectation to attend one to two meetings in London.

The College of Legal Practice is keen to ensure that its commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion is reflected in the backgrounds and experiences of the members of the Board of Trustees. The College would be particularly interested in applications from women and people from black and minority ethnic communities. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where diverse candidates can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.