The link between Judicial Review and the annual review process We are regularly contacted by clients who have had an Annual Review of their child’s Special Educational Needs, but the review process has not been fully completed by the Local...

Making sure your property passes as you choose, with a life interest trust Creating a will with a life interest trust over your property allows you to ensure that your home passes to those you choose, whilst also allowing you to provide for another loved...

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...

High Court rules that student finance regulations discriminated against students who were unable to prove their immigration status in time due to pandemic delays Re Jawad Naeem v Secretary of State for Education and Kyra Morris [2022[ EWHC 15...

In July, one of our clients approached the  International Department  to apply to the Court for permission to move back to her home country of Poland with her children. Our client moved to England approximately eight years ago but was keen to...

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...

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....

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...

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!

What happens when the Local Authority does not name the school or college of your choosing? For those with EHC plans there are specific rules relating to phased transfers where children either start primary school, move to secondary school or move to post...

In late 2019,  Emma Grimbly  (Education Paralegal) was working on numerous cases whereby Devon County Council were neglecting their duties to issue an  Annual Review Decision Notice within the required 4-week period and neglecting to...

A judicial challenge against Devon County Council brought by Watkins Solicitors on behalf of three children with special education needs has succeeded in the Court of Appeal this week. All three appeal judges agreed that there are important issues that the...

We have been receiving many enquiries for Pre-Nuptial Agreements this week following the government’s announcement permitting weddings this Summer.   The breakdown of a marriage is not something we like to consider when planning a wedding,...

2020 was a tumultuous year with employers having to respond rapidly to the challenges of the pandemic. Culturally the world has shifted too, with the Black Lives Matter movement bringing momentum to improving equality and diversity at work. The end of the...

Many divorcing couples are able to agree financial arrangements between themselves. This, in principle, is great. Talking sensibly and reasonably about the future and coming to an agreement during times of high emotion is certainly an achievement and it is...

This is unlikely but The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has issued a consultation paper on proposed measures to reform post-termination restrictive covenants, namely to ban them or pay remuneration during the restricted period...

As everyone will be aware the UK entered a further national lockdown on 5th January 2021, which resulted in the closure of schools across England and Scotland (schools in Wales are scheduled to return on 18th January 2021, however a further Welsh Government...

Updated guidance has now been issued by the HMRC which confirms that employees whose health has been affected by coronavirus or any other conditions, including if they are unable to work from home or work reduced hours can be furloughed.  This is not...

It’s official, the Furlough Scheme has now been extended until the end of April 2021 and the Government will continue to pay 80% of wages until the end of the Scheme (so this will not be reduced at the end of January 2021). For more information on the...

While some people are enjoying working from home, this is not the case for everyone and the negative impacts over several months are taking a toll on some employees.  ‘Employers are unsure of their responsibilities for mental health and how to...