Child Law involving Social Services

We specialise in this type of law. We regularly represent clients in cases with social services in across the south-west including Devon and Somerset.

We regularly act for parents and grandparents and children in these types of case. (Sometimes we will also act as solicitor for Devon County Council – if their own legal team is overstretched).

Members of the Law Society Children Panel

Sarah Hindle – Senior Associate Solicitor – Head of Children Law Team

The measure of excellence of a solicitor for this type of law is membership of the Law Society Child Law Accreditation Scheme – formerly known as the Law Society Children Panel.

Our team: Sarah Hindle, Paul Sykes, Kim Stradling, Sandy Powell and Ian Walker are all current members of the Law Society Child Law Accreditation Scheme. Nicole Phare is a former members of the Law Society Child Law Accreditation Scheme.

Our Children Panel members are supported by a talented team of junior and trainee solicitors and paralegals. But all told we have arguably the strongest team of child law specialists in the South West.

We are therefore able to understand cases from all angles.

Kim Stradling – Senior Consultant Solicitor – Child Law Specialist

We have a lot of content on our website. However, if you are looking at this page because you have been invited to a meeting with social services about your children or you have been told that social services are going to take you to court, or you are a grandparent or stepparent or are involved in some other way in a court case brought by social services about children – then you need to get in touch with us as quickly as possible.

Call our experienced Family Law Solicitors, Divorce Lawyers or Mediators now

CALL: 03339 390188
Or find your local expert:

Exeter (Head Office): 01392 248113 Barnstaple: 01271 827555 Bath: 01225 809399 Bristol: 0117 911 1215 Dorchester : 01305 896776 Frome: 01373 887331 Honiton: 01404 819098 Plymouth: 01752 545244 Plymouth (Plympton): 01752 545244 Poole: 01202 090063 Shaftesbury: 01747 898332 Taunton: 01823 429183 Torquay: 01803 895228 Wells: 01749 987446 Weston-Super-Mare: 01934 806223 Yeovil: 01935 804466

Paul Sykes – Leading Child Law Solicitor

Legal Aid

We are contracted with the legal aid agency to provide legal aid for cases involving social services.

Pre-Court Proceedings

If Social Services invite you to a meeting with a letter which refers to the PLO (public law outline) and/or which may have a list of solicitors attached to it (which we will hopefully be on) – then you are entitled to free legal aid to be assisted at that meeting.

If there social services have invited you to a child protection meeting/children in need meeting/something similar – but without the threat of court – then the rules about legal aid are different. Legal aid is available to parents – but it is means tested.

Court Proceedings

If you are a parent or person with parental responsibility you are entitled to free legal aid – this will cover your costs for the whole of the case.

If you are another family member who is involved with the case – then legal aid could be available – but it is subject to a means test and a merits test.

Sometimes social services will pay for grandparents or other proposed future carers of children to take legal advice before a case is concluded.

Sandy Powell – Senior Solicitor – Child Law Specialist

The important thing is that if you are involved in a case that involves social services is that you let us know straightaway. We will discuss funding options with you. Not being sure where you stand should not put you off making the phone call. We can tell you over the phone whether you will or whether you will likely be eligible for legal aid – and if not we can talk to you about alternative funding options.

The most important thing is that you get in touch with us as soon as possible.