Sydney Edwards

Trainee Solicitor

Overview Sydney is a trainee solicitor who will qualify into the children department. She deals with both public law, representing parents in care proceedings, and private law matters, involving disputes between parents or other family members regarding the arrangements for children. Sydney takes a personal approach in representing her clients and is on hand to provide advice and support and will ensure continuity of representation at Court is maintained where possible. Sydney will provide clients with realistic advice whilst ensuring the sensitive nature of proceedings is at the forefront of her mind. Areas of expertise Public Law Care Proceedings. Sydney represents parents within public law proceedings involving the Local Authority. Sydney also represents parents in pre-proceeding matters where the Local Authority are involved, such as the Public Law Outline Process. In addition, Sydney is able to advise clients on Interim Care Orders, Supervision Orders and Special Guardianship Orders. Sydney has recently been engaged in a complex case involving safeguarding issues of a sexual nature. Private Law Children. Sydney represents parents in private law disputes and is mindful that Court proceedings can be extremely lengthy and stressful for all parties involved, including the subject child(ren). Sydney therefore advises clients to resolve private child arrangements outside of the Court arena where possible in order to ensure the process can remain amicable. However, Sydney has experience of advising clients and lodging applications where issues cannot be resolved without court intervention. This includes applications for Child Arrangement Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders or Specific Issue Orders. Sydney is also able to advise clients on variation or enforcement of existing Orders. Representation of extended family members. Sydney can assist extended family members such as grandparents who sadly also are impacted by disputes over children in both private and public law proceedings. Recognition Sydney was awarded a 2:1 LLB Honours Degree at Keele University in 2020. Sydney continued her studies in Law and completing her LLM Masters Degree in Law and Society in 2021 at Keele University. Sydney is currently studying the Legal Practice Course with BPP University.