We're delighted to welcome Victoria Higgins to @ris-law.bsky.social. Victoria joins us as a solicitor, with experience in #JudicialReview, #CommunityCareLaw and #EducationLaw. We look forward to working with her as we continue to build on the specialist support we provide to our clients. Welcome! 👏

Important Court of Appeal decision on personal welfare deputyships today. Acting for HB's parents, we successfully appealed a refusal to appoint them as welfare deputies and secured much-needed guidance on when deputyships should be granted. [1/3]

A new government consultation proposes significant changes to EOTAS, alternative provision and education for children who are unable to attend school due to health needs. Have your say before 18 September 2026. More information here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/new-governme...

The appeal in Re HDEB [2026] EWCOP 12, regarding welfare deputyship applications, will start at 10.30am on 17 June 2026 and will be live-streamed here: www.youtube.com/@RoyalCourts...

Rook Irwin Sweeney@ris-law.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Rook Irwin Sweeney's Alex Rook and Katie Sinclair alongside @stevebroach.bsky.social and Francesca Gardner of 39 Essex Chambers act for the parents of a young man known as HDEB in an application for welfare deputyship which has now been ‘leapfrogged’ to the Court of Appeal. (1/2)

The appeal in Re HDEB [2026] EWCOP 12 will take place in the Court of Appeal on 17 June 2026. Read more about this update, and the appeal, here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/update-on-we...

Rook Irwin Sweeney@ris-law.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Rook Irwin Sweeney's Alex Rook and Katie Sinclair alongside @stevebroach.bsky.social and Francesca Gardner of 39 Essex Chambers act for the parents of a young man known as HDEB in an application for welfare deputyship which has now been ‘leapfrogged’ to the Court of Appeal. (1/2)

The Supreme Court has granted our Charedi Jewish clients, BYL and BAU, permission to appeal on all grounds the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of their challenge to the imposition of VAT on private school fees 1/2

Come and say hi at our stand if you’re attending the Kidz to Adultz Exhibitions south today! We’re looking forward to meeting families, carers and professionals and having conversations about how we can support children and young people with disabilities and additional needs #KidzToAdultz

‘SEND reforms, if adopted, will dilute existing legal rights in many material ways’ @ris-law.bsky.social’s Polly Sweeney speaks to the Law Gazette after our client issues judicial review challenge to SEND reforms consultation www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/jr-chal...

JR challenge to SEND reforms consultation

Application for judicial review argues the consultation on radical limits to the SEND Tribunal's jurisdiction is unlawful.

lawgazette.co.uk

SEND reforms consultation update: a judicial review has now been issued challenging the government’s SEND reforms consultation, on behalf of our client, 8-year-old Jessica Hayhurst, who brings the case with her mother Melissa Hayhurst acting as her litigation friend. 1/3

Rook Irwin Sweeney's Alex Rook and Katie Sinclair alongside @stevebroach.bsky.social and Francesca Gardner of 39 Essex Chambers act for the parents of a young man known as HDEB in an application for welfare deputyship which has now been ‘leapfrogged’ to the Court of Appeal. (1/2)

Join us! We are recruiting a part time administrator. Apply by 5pm on 12 May 2026 - further details here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/careers/

New vacancy! We are recruiting for a full time education solicitor (min 2 years PQE) for a fixed 12 month contract (with potential to become a permanent role). Apply by 5pm on 22 April 2026 - further details here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/careers/

We’re delighted that @jentwright.bsky.social has been promoted to Associate Solicitor. Jennifer specialises in education law and judicial review, and is rightly recognised by Legal 500 as a “key member of the team.” Learn more about her work here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/jennifer-wri...

Our Polly Sweeney speaks to @thetimes.com about the government’s proposed SEND reforms. See the full article here: www.thetimes.com/article/264a... #education #send

Concern over legality of Labour’s ‘flawed’ Send reforms

Critics argue that the consultation should be started afresh because the proposals strip away children’s protections and weaken their legal rights

thetimes.com

Join us! We are recruiting for a full time education solicitor (minimum 2 years PQE) for a fixed 12 month contract. Apply by 5pm on 8 April 2026 - further details here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/careers/

SEND reforms consultation: we have received a response from the Secretary of State for Education on our client’s letter before claim - our Polly Sweeney provides an update in the Law Society Gazette here www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/plan-to... #education #SEND

Plan to hobble SEND Tribunal a done deal, government admits

Position at odds with education secretary's statement that consultation happens 'before any final decisions are made'.

lawgazette.co.uk

Rook Irwin Sweeney@ris-law.bsky.social · 5mo ago

We have been instructed to send a letter before claim to the Secretary of State for Education, challenging the Government’s SEND reforms consultation on the basis that it is unfair and irrational. Further details here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/first-steps-...

We are in the Court of Appeal today challenging Devon County Council's closure of 'vital' mental health drop in services. @ris-law.bsky.social's Rosie Campbell and @anne-marieirwin.bsky.social and @stevebroach.bsky.social and Eleanor Leydon, both of @39essexchambers.bsky.social, are instructed. 1/2

The deadline to apply for the full time junior solicitor vacancy has been extended to 5pm this Friday 6 March – the full details are below:

Rook Irwin Sweeney@ris-law.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Join us! We are recruiting for a full time junior solicitor (0-2 years PQE) to assist predominantly with the firm’s public law (judicial review), community care and health and welfare work in the Court of Protection. Apply by 5pm on 2 March 2026 -further details here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/careers/

We have been instructed to send a letter before claim to the Secretary of State for Education, challenging the Government’s SEND reforms consultation on the basis that it is unfair and irrational. Further details here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/first-steps-...

The phase transfer deadline of 15 February for local authorities to finalise Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for most pupils has now passed, and you should have an EHCP naming the placement that your child is to attend in September. 1/2

We are reviewing the consultation on ‘SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First’ and the Government’s white paper in detail, and we will continue to support our clients during this time of uncertainty. 1/3

Our @cazza-bee.bsky.social and @jentwright.bsky.social are in the High Court today for a #judicialreview of the decision to close a number of children’s centres in Ealing. Jenni Richards KC at @39essexchambers.bsky.social and @olliepersey.bsky.social at @gardencourtlaw.bsky.social are instructed 1/2

Join us! We are recruiting for a full time junior solicitor (0-2 years PQE) to assist predominantly with the firm’s public law (judicial review), community care and health and welfare work in the Court of Protection. Apply by 5pm on 2 March 2026 -further details here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/careers/

Today is #HumanRightsDay. Alongside the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and 180+ organisations we’ve signed a letter to the Prime Minister to call for leadership that strengthens rights, not weakens them. Read the letter here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/human-rights... 1/3

On #InternationalDayofPersonswithDisabilities, we reaffirm our commitment to working alongside clients towards a world where disabled people are treated with dignity, equity, and respect. A reminder of one of our recent cases in which our disabled clients used the law to protect their rights: [1/2]

We are delighted to be named as one of @thetimes.com best 250 law firms in England and Wales for 2026: www.thetimes.com/best-law-fir... #publiclaw #judicialreview #educationlaw #healthandsocialcare

Webinar Alert: Helping Your Child Navigate Education Transitions

"The lawyers are exceptional in every way. They are exquisite litigators that are friendly yet feisty." We’re delighted to have maintained strong rankings in Chambers and Partners 2026 in Administrative and Public Law, Education and Court of Protection (health and welfare).

We are delighted to be recognised in the 2026 edition of Legal 500 once again this year, as ‘true fighters for some of the most vulnerable people in society’ and to have secured a Tier 1 ranking in Education for the second year running.

We are instructed in an application for judicial review challenging the decision by London Borough of #Ealing to close down or repurpose 10 #children’scentres