Paid well known Education solicitor over 20K in fees so far and he has just pulled out of attending tribunal hearings. Any advice?

[Tarano17]

I have paid over 20K for very well known Education specialist SEN solicitor to represent my children for EHCP process and he has just advised me he is unable to attend Sendist tribunal hearings for either child and that nobody else from his firm can attend. He told me “any barrister can do it”. Would have been nice to be told this before paying over 20K to him so far. Only 3 weeks to go until B.B. & G.B hearings. Very stressed, upset and at a loss what to do. Any advice?

How awful. I'm so sorry. I think you'll get a better response in SEN boards tho (speaking as an SEN parent who is currently spending a fortune on a barrister for the same reason).

Good luck.

Is that because he can’t make the dates?

He said he can’t make the dates, but dates were arranged months ago, and also said that if I postponed tribunal he’s not sure if he could do future dates either. !!!

Has he given reasons?? Was attendance part of the arrangement? Do you have a contract?

Please say you have a contract that includes attendance at the tribunal?

Have there been issues in paying his fees? Are you refusing to follow his advice?

Attendance at tribunal was in the contract and was assured as the education solicitors firm has offices all over the UK. No reason given for non attendance and failure to give more notice. Paid all fees when due and followed advice. Will dig out contract when B.B. & G.B asleep. Regret not getting advice from Ipsea for preparation but was assured he was THE BEST and firm were best SEN Education solicitors in UK.

By any wild chance is this the famed M.S?

What’ve you had for your £20k?

Try ipsea and SOSSEN for further advice? I’m not sure that another firm would take the case

Are these fresh applications, for both kids?

Do it yourself. It's very doabale.

In view of fees paid, ask if someone at the firm can brief you on the case and make a simple summary and/or index that's user friendly.

Formally complain about him later.

It was more than 20K and it got me letters to and from la and Sendist. LA led me on a merry dance but not to the extent it should have cost over 20K for letters and not even got as far as tribunal representation.

That’s so awful, I’m so sorry.

If there is a contract then surely he is breach of it?

Jesus that's awful. You'd hope someone would follow through with the original plan/job and as you've said you gave dates months ago it's very unreasonable of him to not make them. (Plus the 20k paid!!)

I think so too but Education solicitor describes himself in press, forums and on websites as being the best representation a parent could get for their child and I thought that by engaging him I was doing the best to help my kids. He even told me he has kept costs down and I was lucky it was not more. Both him and his firm are very well known and he advertises himself as being able to do everything including tribunal representation for well under 10K. Foolishly I believed him. I’m such a dope. Over 20K just for letters.

specialneedsjungle.com/getting-help-with-ehcps-be-careful-out-there/?utm_source=

Most of the time if solicitors stop acting its because of unpaid bills or because a client refuses to follow their advice.

Most of the time when bills are suddenly much higher than anticipated it's because clients have been very high maintenance over a short period of time in terms of contact. Solicitors charge on a time spent basis.

Not in this case it’s not. My well known education solicitor is based in Cardiff and at the start I was assured that this would not be an obstacle to him attending a tribunal hearing in London as his firm has offices in London as well as all over the UK. “Difficulty with travelling” is excuse. My advice to other parents would be to get Education solicitor based in London and not to believe that solicitor in Cardiff or anywhere else is not an obstacle to attending Sendist tribunal hearings.

I think you need to speak to someone higher up in the company structure. That doesn’t sound right at all. And I’m confused as to why you’d use a Welsh based firm as their SEN system is different.

Is it HCB group? Pm me if you prefer

A Welsh based firm makes no difference Wexford as they work countrywide and supposedly travel to tribunal.

Just re read and wow £20k for just letters, that sounds a lot. I am using HCB group in Cardiff at the moment and our costs are nowhere near what you have paid for letters. The maximum we have been quoted was £12k if a trip to a tribunal is required. Have you had a breakdown at every stage as to what costs are. We get a spreadsheet at every stage and everyone I know who has used them has been delighted.

Is this MC by any chance? He charged us £360 for a free assessment of our situation. He charged my friend well over £20k to write some angry letters. He claims he’s never lost a case, and pulled out of attending my friend’s tribunal because he suddenly had something else on on that day. I’m certain it was because he knew he was highly unlikely to win.

I hope you get it all sorted OP x

Hi, I would google barrister chambers specialising in SEN and instruct a barrister (although the solicitor should do this for you (and may have to do this if they don't provide direct access)). Junior barristers will be cheaper than your solicitor so you should save money, and I bet they're just as good/better. It's normal for a solicitor not to attend the hearing and get a barrister to do it - although if s/he assured you s/he would attend that is different..Then ask for discount from solicitor to reflect the duplicate work caused by barrister reading in. Good luck!