Why Instruct Us

• Introduction
• What Makes Us Different?
• Why Instruct Us?
• Our Approach

INTRODUCTION

People do not always instruct a solicitor because they want to, people usually instruct a solicitor because they have to!

We do not want our clients to have additional anxieties because of instructing a solicitor, on top of those that they already have. Whilst we cannot guarantee success on every occasion, we will also not make claims that we cannot keep. At all times we ensure that our clients receive the best legal advice and service that we can provide and they can be assured that we will have done our best on their behalf.

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WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?

What makes us different from other firms of solicitors is that we don't just have a department, our whole firm specialises exclusively in Education Law and particularly in SEN and Disability Claims. This is practically all that we do!

We understand that having to seek legal advice can be an intimidating and costly experience for parents. We have a national reputation for being completely dedicated to helping parents obtain the right provision/placement for their child by using our specialist legal expertise and experience in order to assist them.

We also believe that every child is 'special' and deserves an equal right to appropriate education, whether they have a SEN/Disability or not. Over the years, we/Douglas have helped literally thousands of parents to get the right outcome for their child, even when they thought that there was no hope left. We help change children's and parents' lives.

We have consciously chosen to accept fewer cases than other 'Education' solicitors do. This is because we can then devote more time and resources to working on them and in that way be able to offer clients a more personal and efficient service and have the best chance of getting the right result.

We also specialise in handling the more difficult or complicated cases, even taking on cases where parents have been unsuccessful previously, even with professional help. We also do not accept cases until we have first met with potential clients personally. This is because we want to ensure that they feel that they can work with us and that we feel we will also be able to genuinely help them. We do not take on cases just for the sake of making money.

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WHY INSTRUCT US?

There are a number of reasons why we believe that you should instruct us. For example, uniquely, unlike other solicitors we run our cases as a 'team' led by Douglas with everyone in the firm involved in a case in various ways from beginning to end. Furthermore, we provide representation directly to clients at SENDIST hearings. We do not instruct someone else to do so on our behalf.

We believe that by pooling our different skills together we can give clients the very best chance of achieving the right result. Our emphasis is on teamwork not individuals. By running cases in this way, our clients can also usually get immediate access to someone who can help and advise them when an issue arises and not just be told that the solicitor handling their case will try and call them back tomorrow or even next week!

We also assist and advise parents from a very early stage in order to help them then successfully steer a steady course through the SEN/'Statementing' process more quickly, more efficiently and sometimes more cheaply overall, rather than by waiting to instruct a solicitor only when a dispute arises.

For example, we can 'ghost' detailed letters for parents to send to LEAs, including requests for assessments/reassessments, which can give them a better chance of one being agreed to and which can then avoid the need for them to first have to appeal to the SENDIST against a refusal, which also inevitably takes much longer to do. In fact, instructing us at the outset can sometimes be cheaper for parents in the long run.

We advise parents about obtaining expert evidence where necessary and refer them to appropriate experts and provide detailed instructions on their behalf ahead of any assessment. This is so that any report produced is always the best that it can be. We work closely with parents, experts, schools and all other relevant people during a case since we know from extensive experience that cases are won by having the right evidence and 'team' not just through clever legal arguments alone.

We also pride ourselves on being 'pro-active' and not just 'reactive'. We believe that good preparation is the key to running a case properly. Whilst we cannot guarantee success on every occasion, our clients always know at the end of the day that both we and they have done everything possible. Even though we know that we have a good track record in winning cases, we actually would prefer people not just to instruct us because of this, but rather because they know that we will always do the very best we can to provide the best advice possible.

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OUR APPROACH

We aim to be a very 'different' kind of solicitor. We are very forward-thinking in our outlook and use technology to its full extent wherever possible to help both us and our clients in dealing with cases. We are also completely transparent about Our Costs and can offer Fixed/Capped Fees in SEND Tribunal appeals. We place a great deal of importance on Client Care and providing customer satisfaction.

Moreover, we always encourage parents to make themselves aware from the very start of a case as to how much they may have to pay if they want do things properly. This is because we want both our clients and ourselves to be able to then concentrate our time and efforts in getting the right result and not have to spend it worrying about the 'meter ticking'. We believe that we objectively add 'value' to cases that we handle. We also do not believe in 'hidden' charges at the end of a case. What we 'say' is what clients 'pay'!

We are also very sensitive to the need to help our clients maintain a good relationship, as far as possible, with schools and LEAs. Although we are not confrontational or demanding like some other solicitors we are always assertive on our clients' behalf. Too often we have seen other representatives doing irreparable damage whilst handling a case, even where they have 'succeeded'. We always look to the future when we handle a case so that any success is not short-term. We do not want our clients to have to experience more problems after a case has been concluded and then have to come back to us again unless they really need to or want to.

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To find out more about Why We Do What We Do, please click on an appropriate link below:

• Client Care

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