Schools and Colleges
Our experience in representing students ranges across the country’s leading preparatory, independent, and public schools. Our approach is student-focused, prioritising welfare and minimising disruption to education, whilst seeking to protect the student’s record and prevent unnecessary escalation, particularly through the involvement of outside agencies such as the police or social services.
We advise on a wide range of matters which includes issues of an academic nature but also allegations, both within and external to the confines of the school or college such as violent incidents, inappropriate behaviour or even sexual complaints.
Where necessary, we work alongside leading counsel and specialist experts in medicine, mental health, rehabilitation, and welfare to ensure that students have the support that they need during these processes, but to also provide supporting material to the school or college if appropriate.
We regularly come across matters that have arisen via student social media and communications between student devices. We have access to technical experts to conduct analysis and are experienced in assisting clients to gather, preserve and present relevant digital material.
We often advise on the application of student policies and processes and can assist a student or family either by being the point of contact with the school or college or simply by working ‘behind the scenes’ to guide them through what are often very stressful circumstances.
Our advice is tailored to each family’s goals, whether that is maintaining the relationship with the school or college, or facilitating a smooth transfer to a new institution with guidance from an external educational consultant.
We also regularly support students facing parallel criminal investigations or prosecutions, ensuring coordinated representation across both education and legal processes.
We can assist students and their families with:
- Advice and liaison with schools and colleges
- Guidance on disciplinary policies and procedures
- Preparation for disciplinary meetings and interviews
- Representation in investigations and hearings
- Parallel representation in criminal investigations and proceedings
- Access to external experts
