Legal Help for ADHD-Related Issues in UK

Written by Sarah-Jayne Bass

UK legal resources for ADHD problems related to education, the criminal justice system, health and financial assistance.

Legal Assistance for ADHD Education Issues

Do you need help with any of the following?

The Code of Practice and how it applies to your child

Your child's Statement of Special Educational Need

Preparing for a Tribunal in order to contest what your LEA wish to do for your child

Are you having difficulties with your LEA

a. arranging specialist provision for your child?
b. refusing or delaying to take the necessary steps for your child?

If so, the following organisations may be able to help:

Organisations offering free help and advice

As far as help with a possible tribunal is concerned The Disability Law Service will offer parents free legal advice. They can be reached at Tel: 0207 7919800. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Education Law Association: Membership of ELAS is open to anyone interested in education law and consists of legal practitioners, academic lawyers, educational establishments and others who provide educational advice. The organisation aims to promote good practice in educational advice, to develop expertise in the practice of education law and to increase co-operation between lawyers and others working on educational issues. Anyone who wants to consult a solicitor experienced in education law may contact the association at the address below.
37d Grimston Avenue, Folkstone, Kent CT20 2QD - Tel/Fax: 01303 211 570
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

IPSEA: the Independent Panel for Special Education Advice, is a registered charity providing advice on LEAs' legal duties towards children with special educational needs. It offers free second professional opinions for parents who disagree with an LEA's assessment of their child and free representation at the Special Needs tribunal when parents want to appeal against an LEA decision. All these services are provided by volunteers (who might be teachers, EPs, etc) who have undergone specialist training. The Advice Line telephone number is 0800 018 4016 or 01394 382814. For Tribunal appeals only: 01394 384711, and general enquiries 01394 380518.

ISEA (Scotland) is at 164 High Street, Dalkeith, EH22 lAY, Parents' Advice Line 0131 4540082.

IPSEA have published a book Taking Action! Your Child's Right to Special Education (Second Edition) Authors John Wright and David Ruebain. Questions Publishing Company, 1999. ISBN No 1-84190-010-9. £14.99 + p&p. Buy on-line at http://www.educationquest.com/. Credit card hotline: 0121 2120919.

The following may also have some advice or answers for you

Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) (Free Help line 0808 800 5793 open every afternoon) which also publishes many helpful handbooks including the ACE Special Educational Handbook, Tribunal Toolkit: Going to the SEN Tribunal; Appealing for a School, and various Summaries of the Law.

British Dyslexia Association 0118 9668271

National Autistic Society, Education Advocacy Help line 0800 3588667, Tribunal Support Scheme 0800 3588668

Network 81 01279 647415

Rathbone Special Education Advice (for children in mainstream schools) 0800 9176790

The amount of time and resources these organisations have to spare is limited, however.

Legal Firms

If your case is likely to need a lot of time spent on it, you may need to contact a firm of solicitors. All the legal firms will charge full professional fees for their services; so ask about their fee structure before you get too involved. Most firms, however, will offer a short consultation with you first, free of charge, so that they can gauge your needs exactly. You are no longer able to apply for legal aid for SEN Tribunal hearings; you may be able to for a case going to the High Court. Consult your adviser.

The following solicitors are experienced in dealing with issues connected with Special Needs and Statementing, Appeals and Tribunals, breaches of statutory duty and negligence, bullying and exclusions:

Ms Eleanor Wright, Maxwell Gillott (London) Tel No 0844 858 3900
Ms Angela Jackman, Maxwell Gillott (London) Tel No 0844 858 3900
Mr Robert Love, A E Smith & Son (Stroud, Glos) Tel No 01453757444
Mr David Ruebain, David Levene & Co (Haringey) Tel No 0208 8817777
Mrs Susannah Arthur, Gabb & Co (Crickhowell, Powys') Tel No 01873 810629 Also at Abergavenny, Hereford, Leominster Hay-on-Wye.
Mr Paul Conrathe, Coningsbys Solicitors (Croydon) Tel No 0208 6805575
Mr Michael Jones, Hugh James (Cardiff) Tel No 0292 0224871
Ms Elaine Maxwell, Elaine Maxwell & Co (Lancaster) Tel No 01524 8408100
Mr Felix Moss, Rust, Moss Solicitors (Accrington) Tel No 01254 390015
Ms Melinda Nettleton, SEN Legal Services (Bury St Edmunds) Tel No 01284 723952
Ms Sarah Palmer, Blake Lapthorn Solicitors (Hants) Tel No 01489 579990
Mr Jack Rabinowicz, Teacher, Stem, Selby (Holborn) Tel No 0207 2423191
Mr Phi Storey, Young & Lee (Birmingham) Tel No 0121633 3233
Ms Yvonne Spencer, Fisher Jones Greenwood Tel No 01206 578282

In addition, a barrister in independent practice who can be approached directly is:

Mr Peter Bibby,Peter Bibby Tel: 0208 693 8752

NB: Most solicitors specialising in Special Educational Needs issues will also specialise in Community Care Law relating to disabilities.