We are a practice focused on education law. We help students, families and learners understand decisions, challenge unfair outcomes and find a clear way through complex processes.
Our focus / Our difference
Specialist thinking. Practical support.
University, school, college and SEND matters have different rules, but they share a need for careful evidence, timely action and advice you can use. We look at the legal position and the real impact of each decision, then explain your options in plain language.
Our approach is focused and collaborative: we listen first, identify what matters and agree the next steps with you.
How we work
Support that keeps you involved.
01 / Our legal team
Expertise with empathy.
Our legal experts work on education matters with care for the people behind the paperwork. We take time to understand your circumstances, the decision you face and the outcome you need.
02 / Our technology
Clarity as cases move.
Our case tracking system and client portal help you follow progress, receive updates and understand what comes next. We use technology to make communication clearer and the work more efficient.
03 / Working together
Stronger through collaboration.
We value working with student unions and student bodies to understand recurring issues, support their communities and help people reach informed legal help when it matters.
Our founder
Youssef Soliman.
Founder & Head of University Appeals
Youssef Soliman
Youssef was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn and has since formed a practice focused on advocacy, public law, housing and complex disputes involving public authorities.
He has appeared in more than 100 court hearings and has substantial experience representing individuals in possession proceedings, urgent applications and other County Court matters.
Learn more about Youssef Explore experience, education and recognition+
His work has a strong public law dimension. He regularly deals with questions concerning statutory duties, public authority decision-making, procedural fairness, Equality Act considerations and the lawfulness of decisions affecting individuals. His wider experience includes homelessness and suitability matters, grounds of appeal, skeleton arguments, written representations and strategic advice on procedural and substantive legal issues.
100+Court hearings
2Judicial commendations
1stClass honours in law
01 / Advocacy & court experience
Experience in court.
Youssef has acted as a County Court Duty Advocate, appearing regularly in possession lists and contested hearings. He has twice received judicial commendation for negotiated outcomes achieved while representing defendants in possession proceedings.
More than 100 court hearings
Residential possession proceedings
Social and private landlord disputes
Mortgage possession matters
Urgent and interim applications
Equality Act and public law defences
Procedural and enforcement applications
Grounds of appeal and skeleton arguments
Negotiation and settlement at court
02 / Public law
Scrutinising decisions.
Public law runs through much of Youssef’s practice. His work involves identifying the source and limits of statutory powers and considering whether decision-makers have followed lawful and fair procedures.
This experience informs his work with students and individuals challenging decisions made by universities and other institutions exercising significant decision-making powers.
Statutory duties
Local authority decision-making
Homelessness and housing duties
Procedural fairness
Evidential assessment
Equality Act 2010 issues
Public law defences in possession proceedings
Appeals and administrative challenges
Written representations to public bodies
03 / Case strategy
Clear analysis. Focused advice.
Alongside advocacy, Youssef provides legal analysis and case strategy. He reviews substantial case papers, identifies central factual and legal issues, and produces focused written advice.
His drafting experience includes opinions, skeleton arguments, applications, grounds of appeal, representations and litigation correspondence. His approach is to identify the issues that determine an outcome and present them clearly and persuasively.
04 / Access to justice
Support beyond the courtroom.
Youssef founded the Survivors’ Compensation Advocacy Project, an initiative providing legal support to survivors of modern slavery and exploitation.
Through this work, he has dealt with statutory compensation schemes, evidential requirements, procedural fairness and challenges to administrative decisions. He has also developed relationships with national charities, trade unions and organisations supporting survivors.
05 / Education & Bar training
Academic foundation.
Inns of Court College of Advocacy
Bar Course, Very Competent. Results included 94% in Criminal Litigation and 88% in Civil Litigation. He was subsequently called to the Bar of England and Wales by Lincoln’s Inn.
University of Hertfordshire
LLB Law, First Class Honours.
06 / Advocacy & recognition
Recognition in practice.
Winner, Crowther Shield Public Speaking Competition, Lincoln’s Inn
Finalist, 6KBW College Hill Criminal Advocacy Competition
Quarter-finalist, Oxford University Press National Mooting Competition
Two judicial commendations for negotiated outcomes in County Court proceedings
More than 100 court hearings
The Crowther Shield is Lincoln’s Inn’s public speaking competition and involved assessed advocacy before practising barristers.
07 / Professional activities
Roles and projects.
Unregistered Barrister
County Court Duty Advocate
Housing Law Consultant
Founder, Survivors’ Compensation Advocacy Project
Former Vice-President, Lincoln’s Inn Students’ Association
08 / Areas of focus
Where experience meets the matter.
Public law
Education and university disputes
Housing law
Equality and discrimination
Civil litigation
Administrative decision-making
Appeals and procedural challenges
Advocacy and case strategy
Where we focus
A legal issue can change a course of study.
We work across the education journey, from a school place or support plan to a university decision with consequences for what comes next.
01 / Universities
When student life meets a legal problem.
Academic decisions, discrimination, housing, contracts and the wider issues that affect students.
Every matter is different. Our first task is to understand your position and explain the choices available before you commit to further work.
01 / Listen
Start with your story.
Tell us what happened, who made the decision and what you need to change.
02 / Review
Find what matters.
We look at the decision, relevant documents, rules and any time limits.
03 / Advise
Understand your options.
We set out practical routes, likely challenges and the proposed scope of work.
04 / Act
Move forward together.
If you decide to proceed, we agree the next steps and keep you informed.
Community & collaboration
Working with those closest to students.
Student unions and student bodies often see patterns long before any one dispute reaches a lawyer. We value their insight and believe good legal support should work alongside the communities people already trust.
That may mean helping someone understand a specific issue, sharing useful information or creating a clear route for a referral. The aim is simple: students should know where to turn when a matter needs specialist attention.
Legal work should not feel like a black box. Our case tracking and client portal approach is designed around a simple need: knowing what is happening, what has changed and what follows.
We pair that visibility with direct, considered communication from the legal team. Your case remains a conversation, not just a set of updates.
Your matter / In viewCampus & Legal
01 / PositionUnderstand the case
02 / ProgressFollow the work
03 / NextSee what follows
A clear view of your matter as it develops.
An illustration of our approach to case updates
Our promise
When education is at stake, you deserve clear advice, careful attention and a team that understands why the decision matters.
Let's talk it through.
Tell us what happened and any deadline you are facing. We can help you understand where to begin.
