Nicole Lee

My name is Nicole Lee and am a Senior Solicitor with SEN Legal, based in our Bury St Edmunds Office. I joined the SEN Legal team in January 2015 as a Trainee Solicitor, after re-locating from my home in North Wales. Prior to joining SEN Legal, I worked for five and a half years as a Support Worker for adults aged 18-60 with learning difficulties, mental health issues and challenging behavioural difficulties, alongside completing my LLB (hons) and Legal Practice Course at Aberystwyth University. My time directly supporting young people and adults with learning difficulties has given me a hands on understanding of the difficulties that families face within the interlinking adult social care and education systems, giving me a unique insight into how best to bring the regimes together, in the best interests of the young person.

I am involved in all aspects of the SEND Tribunal Appeal process, from pre-appeal work with a view to obtaining a Right of Appeal for parents, to drafting submissions to the court, right through to the final evidence deadline and Hearing. I am the lead practitioner within SEN Legal with respect to Social Care and will very often act in matters which have a complicated social care element, including where there are child protection concerns. I have good success in taking the heat out of difficult situations, and clearly asserting the roles and responsibilities of education and social care, where these have become blurred.

I have excellent interpersonal skills and have been commended for the understanding and supportive way in which I assist my clients through what is an undeniably stressful process. My years of working within special educational needs have made obtaining the right provision, and allowing children to receive the best possible outcomes, something extremely personal to me.