Internet Newsletter for Lawyers |
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Education Law Unit: www.edlaw.org.uk
The education law unit is a department of the Govan Law Centre and although the name suggests a local emphasis, the unit has a national remit. The news centre section of the site has the latest updates in education law in Scotland, with appropriate links interspersed to news reports, court cases, legislation, reports and Scottish Executive guidance. The information section includes a frequently asked questions section and also invites questions which are, by implication, less frequently asked. It also includes a series of eight leaflets on education law matters. The leaflets are aimed a pupils who have special educational needs, and come in various community languages (six plus English) and in audio and BSL video formats. There are a handful of more lengthy articles for grown-ups too. Finally, the court work section has a number of (unreported) court decisions from the sheriff court and Court of Session which are taken from the unit’s own cases.
Coventry Law Centre: www.covlaw.org.uk
Coventry Law Centre hold a legal aid franchise for education law in the Coventry area. Their pages on the law centre website introduce the staff members, provide some useful links and give access to seven leaflets on education law for parents. These leaflets are impressively detailed, and are still relatively easy to understand and include "hot topics" such as bullying, discipline at school, special educational needs and school fees. The leaflets can be downloaded in either Word or PDF format.
Children’s Legal Centre: www.childrenslegalcentre.com
The Children’s Legal Centre is an independent charity based at the University of Essex which deals with all areas of child law and policy. It runs an Education Law and Advocacy Unit, which provides free legal advice on matters to do with education law for parents in dispute with their local education authorities (LEAs). The precise service available depends on which area of England or Wales you are in, but there is little in the way of online resources, at least to the non-subscriber.
SEN Legal: www.senlegal.co.uk
SEN Legal is the practice name of Melinda Nettleton LLB in Bury St. Edmunds. As the name suggests, her practice is concerned with the provision of legal advice and representation for parents of children with special educational needs. It is a fairly rudimentary "brochure" site, but does include some information about the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunals, the Statement of Needs etc. which would be useful for parents and beginners in education law.
Education Law Association: www.educationlawassociation.org.uk
This is a group whose membership includes solicitors and other practising education law, as well as educationalists and other groups with an interest in the area. There is a section headed "advice page" which seems promising, but this in fact simply recommends that the viewer contact one of the members. However, the recent seminar publications page allows you to download a very interesting PowerPoint file on "recent disability discrimination and SEN cases". This is the only download at present, but the site is fairly recent and this looks likely to be joined by others in due course.
11 King’s Bench Walk: www.11kbw.com
This is a barristers’ chamber in Temple, London which deals with, among other things, education law matters. Go to the articles section and then to those relating to local government law. There are a number of education law articles and they are impressively up to date. They are also detailed and (one must assume) accurate, being extensively referenced with case law and so on. This site, of all those reviewed here, has the most education law, both in terms of detail and volume.
Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal: www.sendist.gov.uk
This site used to offer case law from these tribunals for England and Wales, but this part of the site seems to have disappeared. There is nonetheless a great deal of useful information for people appearing before the tribunal or members of it in terms of procedure etc.
Enquire: www.childreninscotland.org.uk/enquire
Enquire is the National Advice Service for Special Educational Needs in Scotland. The website provides useful information on special educational needs (or "additional support needs" as they will shortly be known north of the border) which comes in a useful cocktail of law, policy and practical information for parents. There is also a site for children and young people with useful information on choices to be made at school (and beyond). That site is to be found at www.enquire.org.uk.
Education Law Reports from Jordans: www.lawreportsonline.co.uk/ELR.htm
This is a subscription service. Whether or not you plan to subscribe, it is well worthwhile signing up for the free e-mail case alert service, entering your e-mail address and clicking the box marked "Education".
You can also get many of these cases on free sites such as
Iain Nisbet is Head of Education Law (www.edlaw.org.uk) at Govan Law Centre
(www.govanlc.com) in Glasgow.
He also runs the Scots law portal www.absolvitor.com.
Email at the Education Law Unit advice@edlaw.org.uk.
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