Please or to access all these features

SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Solicitor telling me, or me telling solicitor??

3 replies

hoxtonbabe · 03/09/2012 21:06

Evening all,

solicitor seems is on a different page to me.

I have a few days left to my hearing and still working on the working document. Now the LEA have their own agenda, and its more than just trying to save some money as I as I on the war path with all of them for many different issues, and if this is sucessful this will open a bigger can of worms.

Now over the course of this year long battle that will come to an end soon ther have been some things I do not agree with solicitor on, but trusted him. The working document is what basically the key to my son finally getting a good tight, non wishy washy statement like he has had for the last year.

So LEA have done their bit, solicitor did his bit and showed me, I was not happy as it was a bit too open to misinterpretation and it did not list all his needs nor the provision needed to overcome this, so I got a friend who is good at all this tracking, strikethrough stuff to amend and refence the ammendments to the evidence I have and I sent to the solicitor.

He calls me and says "the tribunal wont like the fact there are too many ammendments and we will have to remove some of them"

I am thinking WTF...as much as I do not want to go out my way to pi*s anyone off, neither could I give a rats behind if it annoys the panel, it is what it is. It is all from the evidence bundle, and relevant and more importantly what is needed for my child to learn, what annoys the panel should not be coming into this and neither should he be saying he is changing it so it doesnt annoy them, besides who knows if it will...he is simply speculating. My case is quite complex, and myself and the LEA only agree on the personal details, everything else we have opposing views on (they are refusing to budge and so am I, as what they have on the dccument does not reflect his needs...so not a case of wanting more...it simply does not actually reflect his needs)

I was speaking with my EP, and told her about this and she is also peeved with him. So what I am trying to establish is at what point does the solicitor have to take on board what I am saying? EP is saying the solicitor can advise. but at the end of the day it is my child and my case (which solicitor is not representing in court by the way) and the solicitor can not force their advice on me.

We are going to really clash on this one, to the point that I will log a formal complaint to his boss ( 4 days before my hearing!) as I feel as if I am being forced into making choices and decisions that I am not pleased about with no real reason other than "the panel wont like it" (again this is speculation, as each case is different, and some will require more amending that others) I then have to wonder is the solicitor more concerned for the panel or my child?!?

I feel like I am about to explode with the stress of all this.

OP posts:
WetAugust · 04/09/2012 00:05

bump - hopefullly someone with tribunal experience can help

wasuup3000 · 04/09/2012 01:00

I think he is right the tribunal won't like the working document looking to detailed as in they will think arghh this looks complicated where do we start with this- thats not to say you can't use what you have already. Have a simplified working document that hasn't to many strikethrough's but keep it with the one that does. Then when you are going through the working document verbally then say this is the wording I would like there and why. When you go into the tribunal they will ask you if you want to go into a room with the LA and see what you can agree on first - you don't have to agree to this - if you don't they will go thorugh part 2 with you and ask you again if you want to go through part 3 with the LA after that. You need something that is workable and a starting point which does not mean to say that you won't get the changes you want. The LA may want to go back to the orginal statement minus any changes you may have already agreed if there are a lot of strikethroughs. I hope that explains it a bit more for you?

wasuup3000 · 04/09/2012 01:03

The tribunal may that last sentance should say.... (6 tribunals - 3 LA backed down and 2 won and 3rd in novemebr re experience)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page