Access to Public Law
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education and community care, with an office listed in Lancaster.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Problems with an EHC plan, ALN or additional support for learning
Free, specialist education advice is available in each UK nation. Solicitor firms with an education legal aid contract may be able to take on some cases.
What to do first
- The law is different in each UK nation. In England the usual route is an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment or plan. Wales has additional learning needs (ALN) law. Scotland has additional support for learning. Northern Ireland has its own SEN system.
- Start with a free specialist advice service: IPSEA in England, SNAP Cymru in Wales, Enquire in Scotland, or SENAC or the Children's Law Centre in Northern Ireland.
- In England you can also ask your local Information, Advice and Support Service (IASS).
- Some solicitor firms hold Legal Aid Agency education contracts and may be able to help if you qualify for legal aid. Legal aid is means- and merits-tested.
- IPSEA also offers a tribunal helpline and volunteer casework support for some SEND Tribunal appeals in England.
This is information, not legal advice. Rules and deadlines change. Confirm with an adviser and official sources before you act.
Listings that may help
Central England Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Law centre with offices in Coventry and Birmingham, holding Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, community care, discrimination and public law.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Children's Law Centre
Free
Northern Ireland charity providing free legal advice and representation on children's rights, including special educational needs and disability, and representation at SENDIST.
SEND and education · Tribunal representation
Citizens Advice Gateshead
FreeLegal aid
Citizens Advice service in the North East with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits and discrimination, as well as general free advice.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Coram Children's Legal Centre
FreeLegal aid
Not-for-profit legal centre part of the Coram group, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, including work for children and young people.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Direct Help and Advice
FreeLegal aid
Independent charity listed in the Legal Aid Agency directory for a welfare benefits contract in the Midlands and East, with an office in Ilkeston. Check the website for how to access advice.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation
Disability Law Service
FreeLegal aid
Charity providing free legal advice for disabled people and carers on community care, employment, housing, discrimination, public law and welfare benefits. It also has a legal aid service for some cases.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Enquire
Free
The Scottish advice service for additional support for learning, offering free advice to families, young people and professionals.
SEND and education
Gold Jennings
Legal aid
Solicitor firm in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Greater Manchester Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Not-for-profit law centre offering legal advice in Greater Manchester, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, discrimination and public law.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Harrow Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Law centre in north-west London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, education and public law, including education work that can cover special educational needs.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · SEND and education · Tribunal representation
IPSEA
Free
Independent Provider of Special Education Advice. A leading England-wide charity giving free, independent legal advice and tribunal support to families of children and young people with SEND. It is not a solicitor firm.
SEND and education · Tribunal representation
Irwin Mitchell LLP
Legal aid
National law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education (including work that can cover SEND), community care and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 570654. Legal aid is means- and merits-tested.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Kirklees Citizens Advice and Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Citizens Advice and law centre serving Kirklees, with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits and discrimination.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Law Centre NI
Free
Independent legal charity in Northern Ireland offering advice and representation on social security benefits, including disability benefits and tribunal appeals.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation
Lawstop
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, with offices listed in London, Brighton, Cambridge and Nottingham.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Mary Ward Legal Centre
FreeLegal aid
Not-for-profit legal centre in London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits and public law.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation
Merseyside Law Centre
Legal aid
Law centre with a Legal Aid Agency welfare benefits contract covering the North, with offices listed in the Liverpool area.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation
Riverside Advice
FreeLegal aid
Independent advice centre in Cardiff providing free welfare benefits advice, including Upper Tribunal work, with a Legal Aid Agency welfare benefits contract.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation
Sheffield Citizens Advice and Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Listed in the Legal Aid Agency directory as Sheffield Citizens Advice and Law Centre, with a welfare benefits contract. The public website is Citizens Advice Sheffield.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation
Simpson Millar LLP
Legal aid
Law firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, and listed on the SRA register as organisation 424940.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
Sinclairslaw
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education, community care and public law, with offices listed in Cardiff and London.
SEND and education · Community care and discrimination
SNAP Cymru
Free
Wales-wide charity providing free, independent information and advice on additional learning needs and special educational needs.
SEND and education
Southern England Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Not-for-profit law centre. The Legal Aid Agency directory (updated 4 November 2026) still lists this provider as Wiltshire Law Centre, with welfare benefits contracts. The organisation now presents itself online as Southern England Law Centre.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Tribunal representation
Southwark Law Centre
FreeLegal aid
Law centre in South London with Legal Aid Agency contracts for welfare benefits, discrimination and public law.
Benefits advice and welfare rights · Community care and discrimination · Tribunal representation
Special Educational Needs Advice Centre
Free
Independent advice centre supporting parents of children with special educational needs in Northern Ireland.
SEND and education
Watkins and Gunn
Legal aid
Solicitor firm with Legal Aid Agency contracts for education and public law in Wales.
SEND and education
Watkins Solicitors
Legal aid
Solicitor firm listed in the Legal Aid Agency directory as Watkins Solicitors Inc Brain Sinnott & Co, with education and public law contracts in the South West.
SEND and education