Birketts LLP provides 'an accessible and diverse range of services' for public services organisations across education, health and local government. Its multi-disciplinary team is known for 'quick, personal and clear advice'. Head of public sector Ruth Neave is based in Chelmsford but works across all five of the firm's offices. Abigail Trencher  in Cambridge leads the education group, while Matthew Newnham in Norwich leads on health matters. The vastly experienced Neil Logan Green joined the Ipswich office from K&L Gates LLP to significantly boost the firm's public sector real estate capability. 'Highly innovative' property litigation specialist Richard Eaton in Ipswich also plays a key role in public sector matters. The firm's recent local government work includes an investigation into a work-related fatality at a storage facility in Norfolk for Breckland Council.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP joins the ranking due to its ‘in-depth knowledge of education sector‘ and a team that is ‘friendly, approachable, professional, and always ready to go the extra mile‘. As part of a deep national practice the group in Cambridge assists leading HE and FE clients, as well as many schools, academies and private education institutions, with employment, corporate, charity and regulatory matters. The ‘knowledgeable and responsive‘ Glynne Stanfield, who leads the international education and corporate governance team, ‘always provides appropriate and relevant advice and guidance‘. Employment partner Matthew Kelly recently advised University of Portsmouth on grievance and disciplinary matters, as well as providing employment law training. Senior associate Martyn Robinson also plays pivotal roles in the practice.

Mills & Reeve LLP has a broad public sector practice that advises leading education institutions, among them the University of Cambridge, as well as numerous NHS trusts and care boards across the country. Jill Mason in Leeds is head of health and care, while Martin Priestley in Birmingham leads the firm's education group, but the Cambridge and Norwich offices are home to vastly experienced partners who play pivotal roles in work for national clients. In Cambridge, former head of education Gary Attle in Cambridge, employment specialist Nicola Brown and newly promoted corporate partner Poppy Short are all involved in flagship matters for high-profile clients. Short recently led a team that advised St George’s Hospital Medical School, University of London on the merger of its operations into City St George’s to create a key centre for researchers and students. Health and care M&A specialist Natalie Wade in Norwich is also recommended.

Greenwoods has 'an incredibly commercial and realistic approach to dealing with employment law matters', which are at the heart of its work for clients in the education sector. The firm advises numerous Cambridge colleges, as well as schools and education trusts based in East Anglia. Cambridge-based employment partner Joanna Scally, who leads the practice, 'takes time to provide pragmatic solutions'.  Senior associate and employment specialist Siobhan Thomson, and Peterborough-based senior associate Claire Banks, who handles corporate and commercial matters, are key members of the group. Scally assisted Jesus College, Cambridge, with a detailed review and update of its fellows’ terms and conditions including Research Fellows and College Assistant Professors.

The education, health, social housing and government group at Howes Percival LLP is 'a very responsive and engaging practice of thorough professionals'. It is led by land development specialist Michaela Henson in Cambridge and insolvency expert Morris Peacock in Norwich, who oversee a multi-disciplinary team that advises on property, finance, insolvency, corporate, litigation and employment matters. Norwich-based corporate partner Oliver Pritchard plays a major role in the practice, particularly in regard to mergers and governance matters for NHS clients. Peacock, who is 'superlative in all he does', assisted the Insolvency Service with an investigation into the collapse of care home company Ecohouse Developments Limited, and the failure of BHS Limited. Property partner Nicola Curle moved to Birketts.

Based in Ely, JG Poole & Co. LLP is a four-partner higher education boutique that provides strategic advice on major projects, as well as assistance with litigation, commercial, procurement, data protection, construction and property matters. The firm acts for universities across the UK, among them the University of Cambridge. Clients note that 'the practice is truly commercial and ensures speedy resolution'. Practice head Jason Poole is 'able to think outside the box to identify the real issues', and finance partner Helen Bolton 'has a grasp of corporate and banking detail that is second to none'. Emerging partner talent Katherine Souter is a qualified NEC3 project manager with ECC Project Manager Accreditation, and is highly skilled in construction matters.

At Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP in Cambridge 'the team is very well organised, across the detail of their cases, and hardworking'. Employment specialist Hilary Aldred leads the practice, which advises on specialist issues such as governance and trustees, safeguarding, student matters, and sector-specific regulation, as well as providing general legal advice. She recently assisted the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors with governance and financial matters. 'Clear, technically very strong, and pragmatic' managing associate Sophie Whitbread, who acts for education institutions and charities, plays a central role in assisting clients with the day-to-day management of employees. 'She can be trusted with the most technical of legal queries', remarks one client.

Specialist boutique firm SEN Legal has a stellar national reputation for special educational needs and disability matters. The firm has consistently achieved a higher than 90% success rate for its work in SEND Tribunal appeals, disability discrimination, judicial review, social care, personal budgets, and exclusions. The team is ‘very clear on the law and very good with clients‘, and the firm is ‘second to none in the field of special educational needs law‘. Practice heads Hayley Mason-Seager (who is ‘a force to be reckoned with‘) in Cambridge, and and Nicole Lee in Bury St Edmund lead a skilled group of experience solicitors in James Brown, Richard Nettleton and the ‘extremely competent and empathetic‘ Idhren Drew. Founding partner Melinda Nettleton left the firm in 2024.