Frequently asked questions
The questions we're actually asked most, answered plainly.
Are you solicitors?
No. We are specialist SEND advocates, not solicitors, and we are not regulated by the SRA. We say what that means plainly on the about page, including what protections don't apply because of it. What we do is the evidence, negotiation and advocacy a SEND appeal actually turns on.
How much could this cost in total, worst case?
Your costs are the published casework fee for your appeal type plus £1,800 for each hearing day your case needs, and most appeals are listed for a single day. For a contents and placement appeal heard in one day, that is £4,200 casework plus £1,800 for the hearing, £6,000 in total. The only costs outside that are independent expert reports, which are commissioned separately and never sprung on you.
What happens if we settle before the hearing?
You pay for the stages your case has actually reached, and nothing for the ones it hasn't. Most appeals settle before a hearing is needed, and when that happens the later stages, including the hearing fee, are never billed. The stage-billing table on the fees page sets out how this works.
What happens if the appeal doesn't succeed?
Our fees are for the work we carry out at each stage, not for the outcome, and that is set out in writing before anything starts. If we think the evidence doesn't support carrying on, we say so, on the free call and at every stage after it.
How long does an appeal take?
Honestly: longer than anyone would like. The Tribunal is heavily backlogged and listing times vary widely by region and appeal type, so we won't quote a generic figure. Many appeals settle before the hearing date. We give you the realistic current timeline for your specific case on the free call.
What if the hearing gets postponed or vacated?
It happens more often than people expect, for reasons entirely outside anyone's control. The same stage billing applies: stages your case has reached are billed, stages it has not are not, and we tell you what a postponement means for your case as soon as we know.
Do I need to travel to the hearing?
No. We work England-wide, and hearings can usually be attended by video. Where in-person attendance is needed or preferred, travel is agreed with you in advance.
Can you help if we're already partway through an appeal?
Yes. We can take over a case that's already registered, at any stage, and the free call is where we work out what's already been done and what's left.
What about legal aid?
We are not a legal aid provider. Civil Legal Advice and IPSEA are the places to check whether you qualify for Legal Help. If it looks like you might, we will tell you so on the free call and point you in the right direction, at no cost. The full detail is on the fees page.
Ready to talk it through?
Book a free 20-minute call. We will listen, and give you a straight view on whether an appeal is worth bringing.