Families in Birmingham and Manchester will benefit from free legal advice thanks to a partnership between children’s charity Just for Kids Law and law firm Fieldfisher
Award-winning children’s charity Just for Kids Law has teamed up with leading law firm Fieldfisher to offer free legal assistance to families challenging unfair school exclusions in Birmingham and Manchester.
The new legal clinics represent the first time the London-based charity has expanded its unique child-centred legal services for children excluded from school beyond the capital.
Latest figures from the Department for Education show that in the 2017-18 academic year there were 655 permanent exclusions in Greater Manchester, while 11,138 pupils received at least one fixed-term exclusion.
The number of school exclusions has seen a marked increase in recent years and has been linked with social trends including knife crime. In May 2019, the government published a long-awaited review of school exclusions by the former children’s minister Edward Timpson, which found that exclusions disproportionately affect children from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, and those with special educational needs and disabilities.
Just for Kids Law operates a unique casework model that puts the wishes and feelings of children at the centre. Expert solicitors will coordinate work from the charity’s London headquarters, while services will be delivered by lawyers based in Fieldfisher’s Birmingham and Manchester offices.
Aika Stephenson, Founder and Legal Director at Just for Kids Law, said:
“We are delighted to take this exciting first step in expanding our unique legal services for children excluded from school beyond London. These children often end up struggling to access the education they need to progress in their lives, with too many falling prey to criminal exploitation and getting funnelled into a life of crime. It is vital that all families have access to the legal advice and representation they need to ensure their voices are heard and their rights respected in appeal hearings. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Fieldfisher enabling us to support children and their families in Birmingham and Manchester.”
Ian Austin, Managing Partner of Fieldfisher Manchester, said:
“We are proud to be supporting this initiative with Just for Kids Law. As head of Fieldfisher’s Manchester office, I am very pleased that the charity has expanded its highly worthwhile work to the city, as well as Birmingham.
“Fieldfisher’s charity partnerships are central to the firm’s identity and we look forward to deepening our relationship with Just for Kids Law.”
