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,...

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...

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...

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 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...

We are aware of the media attention surrounding Covid-19 and whether it will impact on your conveyancing transaction. We are doing all that we can to ensure that we keep things moving along as smoothly as possible. The Law Society has issued a press...

Have you recently been appointed as an Executor in a Will for a person who has died? Or has a relative died without making a Will and you wish to be the Administrator? If that is the case, you may not be entirely sure of what an Executor or an ...

A PLO (Public law outline meeting) or PPM (Pre-Proceedings Meeting) is a meeting called by the Local Authority when they have concerns surrounding your care of your child/children. The meeting is an opportunity for the Local Authority to make you aware...

Chancel repair liability is the requirement for some homeowners to pay towards the cost of repairs to the chancel of a nearby church which can be expensive. If the property you are proposing to buy falls within boundaries of a parish, you can be held...

A Judicial Review against funding cuts by Cornwall Council to college education for autistic young people concluded today, 11 December 2019, with a huge success. Full course funding has been restored, not merely for the September 2019 cohort but for...