Beating the system together
Services and Fees
Clear, structured, professional guidance on where you stand and what steps can realistically be taken. Most work is quoted at a fixed fee, published here, so you can budget with confidence.
A free 30 minute telephone consultation
We talk it through. No charge, no obligation, no jargon. You tell me what is happening and I tell you honestly whether I can help. Book your call here.
Case review — £850
A review of your paperwork providing a clear, structured, professional assessment of your situation, where you stand and what steps can realistically be taken, and a discussion of the strengths of the case. If the bundle to be considered is over 500 pages of A4 the fee is £1,000.
As part of the case review I ask you to supply all the relevant documentation regarding your child or young person. This should include all emails and letters with schools and Local Authorities and any expert reports. I will review the documentation and produce written advice and a summary covering:
- Comments on the documentation.
- Strengths and weaknesses of any evidence you currently have, and how this can be improved.
- A realistic analysis of what can and cannot be achieved.
- The likely costs involved.
- Next steps and the options available to you.
On completion of the case review it is entirely up to you whether you would like me to help you with the case.
Fixed fees
Most tribunal appeals are quoted at a single fixed price for the appeal itself, so there are no surprises. As we only take on select numbers of clients, no VAT is charged.
Fixed fee appeals — preparation and paperwork
Each fee covers drafting the Reasons for Appeal and Further Information, the accompanying paperwork, and advice on the Local Authority’s case.
| Free initial consultation | 30 minutes, no charge |
| Case review | £850 |
| Refusal to Assess appeal | £2,750 |
| Refusal to Issue an EHC appeal | £3,750 |
| Appeal against contents B, F and I, or EOTAS | £6,250 |
| Cease to Maintain appeal | £5,500 |
| Appeal to the Upper Tribunal | £4,500 |
| Annual Review | £2,000 |
| Disability Discrimination Claim | £7,000 |
Representation at a hearing is quoted separately
Not all appeals reach a hearing. Where one is needed, it is not included in the fixed fees above.
| Representation by Melinda at the final hearing | £2,000, no VAT |
As a solicitor, rather than an unregulated paralegal, Melinda can also instruct experienced specialist Counsel — a barrister — to represent you at the hearing instead. She will set out the options and the costs so you can choose.
One size does not fit all
Not every case fits neatly into a package. Judicial review, negligence claims and one-off specialist advice fall outside the fixed fees. For these, Melinda provides advice and consultations, drafts letters and correspondence, and sets out a strategy at £300 per hour, always with an estimate given in advance.
Case reviews of bundles over 500 pages are £1,000. Fixed fees cover Melinda’s own work only, and do not include independent experts’ fees, travel or accommodation, any costs awarded against you in exceptional circumstances, or work after the Tribunal process has concluded. Each appeal is treated as a separate service with its own fee.
Annual Review
The Annual Review fee amounts to a full day’s work. Reports must be considered (including chasing if necessary), advice provided, the Annual Review attended, and afterwards you are advised about the timescales that apply and the action we can follow up with, including where you stand and what steps can realistically be taken.
Payment
To secure your place among the limited number of cases I take, my standard practice is to handle the on-boarding paperwork and invoice payment ahead of time. This lets me focus on helping you once we begin. Each appeal is treated as a separate service with its own fee.
Legal Aid
Unfortunately I am not able to offer Legal Aid, which is restricted to only a couple of practices in England and Wales. You can check your eligibility at www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid. Eligibility is very limited.