Emily Mitton

Emily is a Solicitor working predominantly within Watkins Solicitors’ Public Law and Human Rights team, alongside continuing to advise clients in Family Law.

Emily advises individuals and families in Public Law matters involving decisions, actions and failures by local authorities and other public bodies. Her work includes Judicial Review cases concerning children and young people who have been left without suitable education or support, failures to secure appropriate provision and other situations where a public body may not have complied with its legal duties.

She has experience helping families challenge decisions affecting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including cases where children and young people have been unable to access education or appropriate specialist provision. Emily has also worked on urgent Judicial Review proceedings and cases concerning disability rights and access to services.

Emily is particularly committed to access to justice and to helping people who may otherwise struggle to obtain legal representation. She understands that challenging a local authority or other public body can feel daunting and aims to give clients clear, practical advice about their options and the steps that can be taken.

Alongside Public Law, Emily has substantial experience in Family Law. Since joining Watkins, she has worked on public law children matters, private children cases and international family matters. Her experience includes care proceedings where children have returned to the care of their parents, as well as private children matters involving parents seeking to establish or rebuild relationships with their children.

Emily joined Watkins Solicitors as a Paralegal in June 2022 and began her training agreement in April 2023. She gained experience across both Family Law and Public Law while completing the qualifying work experience for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination route. Emily studied independently for the SQE alongside her work at Watkins and was admitted as a solicitor in September 2026. 

Before entering the legal profession, Emily studied Broadcast Journalism before completing a Master’s degree in Law at the University of Bristol. Her earlier work reporting on vulnerable and marginalised communities contributed to her decision to pursue a career where she could work more directly with individuals and remain involved in helping them achieve change.

During her legal studies, Emily developed a particular interest in Human Rights and Public Law and was involved with the Human Rights Implementation Centre and Lawyers Without Borders. Her interest in these areas has continued throughout her career at Watkins. 

Emily is particularly interested in expanding her work in discrimination, protected characteristics, inquests and strategic Public Law challenges. She is interested not only in securing positive outcomes for individual clients, but also in cases capable of addressing wider policies or practices affecting groups of people.

What clients say

One client whose Judicial Review concerned SEND transport described Emily and her colleagues as:

“The team were so consistent and committed to getting the best outcome for my son... I can honestly say they have saved our lives, and are brilliant disability advocates!”

The client specifically recognised Emily alongside Christopher White and Aryan Mishra following the successful challenge.