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Watkins Solicitors celebrates 20 years in North Street

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Friends, family, staff and colleagues of Watkins Solicitors turned out on Friday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the firm opening its doors in North Street in Southville, Bristol. A hot summer evening and the front lawn of the...

High Court calls time on council delays for children with special needs and disabilities

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In a landmark judgment issued today (8 March 2022) the High Court has made it clear that every local council must keep to fixed legal time limits when reviewing the needs of children and young people with special educational needs . Councils have been...

Watkins Smashes Fundraising Goal

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Watkins Smashes Fundraising Goal 24 September 2021 was MacMillan’s Coffee Morning – a nationwide fundraising effort for a valuable cause. As many at the firm will already be aware, Watkins took part in the effort to raise money for this...

Tony Calwell running the London Marathon in aid of charity

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This October, partner Tony Calwell will be running the London Marathon to raise money for the Red Cross and St Michael's Hospice, Hereford. He is running in memory of his late sister-in-law Alison, a great fundraiser herself, who sadly died last year....

Marika Szychalska qualifies as a solicitor

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We are delighted to announce that one of our trainee solicitors, Marika Szychalska is now a fully qualified solicitor – congratulations to Marika! Marika joined our firm in September 2016 when she was a student at the University of the West of...

Congratulations to Andy and Murihah

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We are delighted to announce that Andy Kerese and Murihah Ahmed have both been offered training contracts with the firm. Both commenced on the 1st June 2021, and both will continue working in the Family department for then next few months. Congratulations Andy and Murihah!

Beverley Watkins featured in Law Society Gazette

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Managing Partner Beverley Watkins features in the latest edition of the Law Society Gazette, where she discusses representing three families in a test case in the Court of Appeal that could significantly impact on local authority procedures for children with...

Watkins Solicitors granted permission to appeal on behalf of 3 children with SEND

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Watkins Solicitors have successfully been granted permission to appeal in the Court of Appeal on behalf of 3 children with SEND in a judicial review that could significantly impact on local authority procedures for children with EHCP’s. The claims...

Beverley Watkins speaks at Developmental Language Disorder Unpacked

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Beverley Watkins, our Education Law Specialist, will be speaking at Developmental Language Disorder Unpacked, a workshop for parents of children with Developmental Language Disorder. The event takes place in Bath on 16 th October and is being run by...

Parents successful in bid to challenge Wiltshire Council's plans to close local special schools

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Families in Wiltshire have been successful in their bid to challenge the Council’s proposals to close down three schools for children with complex needs and disabilities. Dr Keith Lomax of Watkins Solicitors in Bristol & Bath , who...

Watkins Solicitors takes Wiltshire to judicial review over special school closures

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Watkins’ solicitor Dr Keith Lomax, who specialises in challenging public bodies, is instructed by parent groups supporting two of the schools that the council plans to close. Friends of Larkrise School in Trowbridge and St Nicholas School in Chippenham...

Dementia-friendly Bath conference

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We were delighted to exhibit at the dementia friendly Bath conference, which was excellently organised by Bath & North East Somerset Dementia Action Alliance (“Bath DAA”) at the Guildhall in Bath on Thursday 7th February 2019. There was...

Keith Lomax discusses legal challenge to council plans for special schools on BBC Radio Wiltshire

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Dr Keith Lomax , our judicial review & regulatory specialist, was interviewed by Ben Prater on BBC Radio Wiltshire this morning. The topic of conversation was Wiltshire Council's proposals to close special schools in Chippenham and Trowbridge....

Supreme Court judgment today - a public law classic example

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As you may have heard in the news today, a judgment has been handed down in the Supreme Court in a case that involved a number of linked appeals including ’W’ for whom our Judicial Review & Public Law Specialist, Keith Lomax , has been...

Dementia Action Week

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The week of 21-27 May 2018 was Dementia Action Week and the emphasis this year was on taking action “to improve the everyday lives of people affected by dementia”. Our trainee solicitor, Lisa Morgan, who is also a Dementia Friends...

Progress in becoming a dementia-friendly law firm

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We are delighted to have taken further steps to implement our action plan in becoming a dementia-friendly law firm and are now members of the Bristol DAA , South Gloucestershire DAA and Bath DAA (“Dementia Action Alliance”). We have already...

Watkins Solicitors becoming a dementia-friendly law firm

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We are delighted to announce that Watkins Solicitors are in the process of becoming a dementia-friendly law firm, starting in January 2018. We are now members of the South Gloucestershire and Bristol Dementia Action Alliance, and planning to extend this in Bath where we have recently opened a new office...

Watkins Solicitors open new office in Bath

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Watkins Solicitors are delighted to announce the opening of our new office in Bath.
The firm has a contract to carry out Legal Aid work from this office, which is situated in the centre of Bath... 

Beverley Watkins wins Bristol Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year

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Staff had a wonderful evening at the Annual Bristol Law Society Awards and, to round it off, Beverley Watkins won the award for Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year!    When presenting the award, the following was said: "To Beverley...

SEN Information Day for Parents

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SEN Information Day for Parents (All you need to know about Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments and Plans in just one day!) Presented by Watkins Solicitors Following the huge success of their EHC needs assessments &...

Watkins Solicitors and Upfest

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As tens of thousands descended on Bedminster in Bristol for Europe's largest street art festival, Upfest, Watkins Solicitors played their part by hosting a Bric-a-Brac Sale on the front lawn of their office at 192 North Street....

Tamsin James has been talking about her own experience of flexible working

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Our very own Tamsin James is the subject of a case study published by Kristal McNamara of Flexology, who specialise in flexible recruitment for professionals in the South West. Read about Tamsin’s experience of flexible working by clicking here: ...

Watkins Solicitors raise money for Red Nose Day!

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Staff from Watkins Solicitors raised over £50 from our Red Nose Day Bric a Brac and Cake Sale on Friday 24 March at our Kingswood Office. Thank you to everyone who bought items and donated so generously. All the money will go to helping those less...

Winter Wonderland

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Bedminster had a Winter Wonderland Festival on 27, 28 and 29 February 2016. Sophie Warner decorated the upstairs windows of the North Street office with paper cranes.  The effect was amazing! ...

Watkins Solicitors raise money for the Great Legal Bake!

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On February 3rd 2016 Watkins Solicitors raised an impressive £74.49 for the Great Legal Bake which raised money for legal advice agencies in the South West of England! There were some fantastic cakes baked and several members of staff made...

Watkins Solicitors speak at Bristol Autism Support

Beverley Watkins
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Watkins Solicitors speak at Bristol Autism Support – dispelling more myths about exclusion and school transport for children and young people with SEN and/or a disability. Liz Smith and Beverley Watkins  gave a talk at a Bristol Autism...

Another very happy client!

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These arrived in our Bedminster office today… ...

Watkins Solicitors are delighted to welcome Lydia Dunford to their education team

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Education Law Lydia has a Law Degree and was awarded her Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice in June 2015. She has always had a keen interest in Education Law, having a brother with Autism and other learning difficulties. She also wrote her...

Zina Ruffino shortlisted for "Junior Lawyer of the Year"

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We are delighted to announce that Zina Ruffino, Solicitor, has been shortlisted in the category of “Junior Lawyer of the Year” at the forthcoming Bristol Law Society Annual Awards. Zina Ruffino qualified in 2012. Prior to that she was a...

Watkins Solicitors first Education conference on 25.9.15. was a great success!

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‘The ABC of ABA’ – designed to inform parents of children who have a diagnosis of Autism about ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis). Beverley Watkins opened the conference and welcomed everybody. She gave the following examples of comments...

Natalie De-Merist and 'Law in Action'

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Natalie joined Watkins Solicitors in September 2014 whilst she was completing her final year of a law degree at UWE. She is the third student to undertake a work placement with the ‘Law in Action’ module. Here is what she had to say about her...

Beverley Watkins is mentioned in the well respected Chambers Guide 2015

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Beverley Watkins of Watkins Solicitors is well regarded by market commentators, with one commenting that “I completely trust and respect her.” She is highly regarded for her SEN work and has great skill in handling disability cases. ...

The SRA decide to abolish the mandatory 16 hours per year CPD for solicitors

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In the long term this may not be good for solicitors, says Beverley Watkins as firms are bound to cut their training budgets. Firms which currently provide training for solicitors are also likely to close. For more details see article in Gazette ....

Pupils face post code lottery

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Beverley Watkins is mentioned in the Times article concerning school admissions. Beverley has advised parents in respect of school admissions for over 15 years. ...

Record breakers

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Bristol have had Jenny Jones break records at Sochi but on Sunday Victoria Shufflebotham will be attempting to break another record – she will be trying to get into the Guinness book of records for the fastest women to run the London marathon in a...

Bric a Brac Sale - what a splendid day!

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Bric a Brac Sale – what a splendid day! After all the rain the sun finally shone on 7th March 2014 so that we could put up our yarn bombing outside our Kingswood office in time for our bric-a-brac sale on the following day. The office really did...

Watkins staff run London Marathon

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We are running the London marathon to raise money for Survive and the Bourne Family Centre (part of the Aid International charity). These are both really worthwhile charities working in the Bristol and South Gloucestershire area. Like many small charities...

Watkins celebrates 10 years in Southmead office Bristol

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Watkins Solicitors celebrated the 10th anniversary of their Southville office with a party! Luckily the weather held. ...

Legal Aid Firm of the Year

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Last week at the Marriott’s City Centre Hotel saw the annual Bristol Law Society awards handed out to the cream of the legal profession in Bristol. The event attracted over 300 lawyers and guests and was hosted by Mr Ashley Palminteri, the President...

Law at UWE Bristol

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We are active in the local legal community, including engaging with and encouraging the next generation of lawyers. Here’s a good example of us working with students studying law at UWE Bristol in this short film from UWE. Find out more about our...

We're in the running!

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Nominees shortlist for Bristol Law Society’s 2013 Awards Each year the Bristol Legal Society awards legal companies and individuals for their contribution to legal services in the the local area. This year, we are pleased to say, Watkins have been...

A little time to feel good

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Some times it just makes us feel good to read a ‘feel good story.’ 2012 will of course be remembered for the London Olympics which resulted in a number of tear jerking stories about the sacrifice and pain of athletes in making it to the Olympics....

Vintage Tea Party

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THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE BAD WEATHER FORECAST ...

Bedminster Garden Competition

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Christopher Dean a local photographer has been taking photographs of people in their whose gardens have won a gold award in the Bedminster Garden competition. Chris visited our office garden one August summer evening when Vicky from Paper Village had called...

JK Rowling and the breach of confidence

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Confidentiality is at the heart of everything a solicitor does. It is astonishing therefore to discover that a partner in a solicitors firm which deals with entertainment law was at the heart of the disclosure that Robert Glbraith was a pseudonym for JK...

New Kingwood office opens

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Watkins Solicitors celebrate the opening of their second office in Kingswood with a traditional tea party and cutting of the ribbon. Contact us for more information....

Law in Action

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What is Law in Action? Law in Action is a third year module run by the University of the West of England ( www.uwe.ac.uk ). There are two elements to the course. One area focuses on promoting the University in the community by carrying out events and the...

Bristol Law Society feature on Watkins Solicitors

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The firm was at the forefront of the campaign against the cuts for legal aid making the local evening tv news ! Read the full story here ...

News about Watkins Solicitors