Laura Thompson
Laura is a principal associate in the education team at Browne Jacobson.
She advises schools, academies and multi-academy trusts on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious education matters and regularly delivers training across all key areas. Laura advises on a wide range of education law issues, including pupil behaviour, exclusions, admissions, disability discrimination, school policies, and parental complaints. Her core areas of practice include:
- SEND funding and placement challenges and advice around EHC needs assessments, EHCPs and appeals before the First-tier Tribunal.
- Disability discrimination claims in the education context.
- Advising on suspensions and exclusions as well as clerking and representing Independent Review Panels.
- Handling complex parental complaints, and supporting with the complaints appeal process.
- Reviewing and advising on admissions policies and clerking admissions appeal hearings.
Laura has a particular specialism in SEND and regularly acts for local authorities in SEND appeals before the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal.