The Education Authority is seeking to appoint up to four firms of solicitors to provide defence personal injury legal services across Northern Ireland. The contract covers the defence of actual or anticipated High Court and County Court personal injury claims brought against the Education Authority, Libraries NI, and various school Boards of Governors, including controlled, Irish Medium and Catholic Maintained schools. Services may also include initial claims investigations, appeals, and third-party or contribution proceedings. The framework will operate on an as-and-when-required basis with no guaranteed workload. The estimated contract value is £2.2 million excluding VAT, running from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2030.
Key Dates
Tender deadline: 27 March 2026 at 3:00pm
Estimated contract start date: 1 July 2026
Estimated contract completion date: 30 June 2030
Contract duration: 4 years
Scope of Works
Defence of personal injury claims in the High Court and County Court
Representation in actual or anticipated proceedings
Conduct of initial claims investigations where required
Handling of appeals arising from court decisions
Management of third-party and contribution proceedings
Legal advisory and representation services under agreed contractual arrangements
Delivery of services on an as-and-when-required basis with rotational allocation of work
Ideal Supplier
Established firm with proven experience in defending personal injury litigation
Strong track record in High Court and County Court proceedings
Expertise in public sector or education sector claims
Capability to manage appeals and complex multi-party proceedings
Robust case management systems and ability to respond to variable workloads
Clear, practical approach to claims investigation and litigation strategy