Across:
8 Look for someone (SEARCH) to reach (reach) out (= anagram indicator) (reach = -EARCH) to after (= position indicator) school (-S) (SEARCH),
9 Prison sentence (TIME) for those in 10 across is a contradiction in terms of (‘open’ is a contraction in terms of LOCK) (TIME LOCK) secure mechanism that’s ajar for certain periods (bank’s secure mechanism = TIME LOCK),
10 Frank (OPEN) is ready to meet customers (OPEN),
11 What the director did (MADE A SCENE) embarrassed those in public (MADE A SCENE),
12 Paul is out of sugar-apple (‘Paul’ is out of ‘sugar-apple’ = sgarpe = GRAPES) fruits (fruits = GRAPES),
14 You can get that from The Guardian? (TUTELARY) Short expression of disapproval (TUT-) for knocking back (= reverse indicator) drink (ale = -ELA-) bordering on the rowdy (bordering on the ‘RowdY’ = -RY)! (TUTELARY),
15 It’s permitted (LEGAL) to get a job (PROFESSION) (LEGAL PROFESSION) in the bar (LEGAL PROFESSION),
18 Eel (KINGKLIP eel) and prawn (KING- prawn) cocktail (‘cocK’ tail = -K-) for a mouthy type (= -LIP) (KINGKLIP),
20 Pain in the neck (PEST-) for the French (‘the’ French = -LE) (PESTLE) employed in the crush in the ground? (PESTLE),
22 Most of those in 21 down (most of ‘lemons’ = LEMON-) on drugs (-GRASS) (LEMONGRASS) with Herb (LEMONGRASS),
24 Half the characters in 9 across (half of ‘time lock’ = TIME) or High Noon (TIME),
25 Lawyer (senior counsel = SC-) finds hot (-H-), new (-N-) programs (program applications = -APPS) (SCHNAPPS) available at The Bar (SCHNAPPS),
26 Paul wrote to them (St Paul wrote epistle to ROMANS) for royal (R-) Saudi Arabian neighbour’s (-OMAN-) son (-S) (ROMANS).
Down:
1 Trim (p) underground type (hell) ('hell' without 'l'= HEL-) has gym (-PE-) routine from the start ('Routine' from the start = -R) (HELPER) produced by acolyte (HELPER),
2 Put on a happy face (GRIN), as hard work (grind) is cut short (d) (‘grind’ without ‘d’ = GRIN),
3 Sign of approval (THUMBS UP) for singalong (-HUM-) after (= position indicator) tenor (T-) backed (= reversal indicator) bar (pub = -B UP) covering The Last Glass (the last ‘glasS’ = S) (THUMBS UP),
4 Stable type (STUD / horse) of cortisone from discount store (‘cortisone’ from ‘discount store’ = dust = STUD),
5 Make known (IMPART) we are not in time warp (‘we’ are not in ‘time warp’ = timarp = IMPART),
6 Lawyer (Bachelor of Law = B-L-) admits shortfall (-LACK-) relates to first (1st = -IST) and last series (last ‘serieS’ = -S) (BLACKLISTS) of boycotts (BLACKLISTS),
7 Icons are (icons are) smashed (= anagram indicator) (icons are = SCENARIO) in a sequence of dramatic developments (SCENARIO),
13 One of those in the abbey (one of those in The Abbey Theatre = PLAY-) crushed -(GROUND) (PLAYGROUND) by The Yard (PLAYGROUND),
14 Serves up (= reverse indicator) duck (-O-) covered in wine (wine/ port = TR-OP) (TROOP) in company (TROOP),
16 Proof (EVIDENCE) endive (endive) salad (= anagram indicator) (endive = EVIDEN-) is from Clare (-CE) (EVIDENCE),
17 Tell a story (expose = EXPOS-E) about old city (-UR-) (EXPOSURE) with a lack of protection (EXPOSURE),
19 Helping hands (LEG-UPS) from the French- (‘the’ French = LE-) -sounding foundation (‘soundinG’ foundation = -G) to those at the end of 3 down (‘thumbs-UP’ = -UP-) getting last rites (last ‘riteS’ = -S) (LEG-UPS),
21 Twists at the bar (LEMONS) with fresh (= anagram indicator) melons (melons = LEMONS),
23 Covered up by global society (covered up by ‘globAL SOciety’ = ALSO), to boot (ALSO),
24 Piece of scrap metal (piece of ‘scraP METal’ = pmet) raised (= reverse indicator) (pmet = TEMP) from sub (TEMP).