Nicole Lee
Solicitor
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Head of Legal
SRA ID: 581883
My name is Nicole Lee and I am Head of Legal and Board member at SEN Legal, based in both our Bury St Edmunds and North Wales Offices. For three consecutive years, I have had the privilege of being named as a Rising Star in the Legal 500.
I joined the SEN Legal team in January 2015 as a Trainee Solicitor and have since returned to Wales to better support parents navigating the Welsh special educational needs system. I also spend time each month in our Bury St Edmunds office.
Within the practice, I am responsible for the effective training and management of the whole legal team across all of SEN Legal’s offices. I am also responsible for investigating complaints.
Alongside representing parents in complex SEND Tribunal Appeals, I am the lead practitioner within SEN Legal with respect of 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 am also the lead practitioner in respect of cases in the Education Tribunal for 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 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. In the 2024 Legal 500, I am recorded as “'Professional and compassionate' senior solicitor Nicole Lee in Cambridge is also recommended for her 'patient, kind and understanding' approach to cases and clients”. 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.
3-4 Forbes Business Centre, Kempson Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP32 7AR
Licensed for 7 years
Practice Areas
Education, Notary, Human rights
Challenging local authority decision to cease to maintain EHCP
We instructed Nicole Lee at SEN Legal on behalf of our son who has complex special needs. The local authority had decided to cease to maintain the EHCP on account of our son's age. Faced with a novel set of facts, Nicole showed great skill identifying the relevant legal basis and putting together a clear and compelling case for our son. Her letter persuaded the local authority to reflect and subsequently change its decision and instead maintain our son's EHCP for a further year (which will benefit him immensely). She delivered a fantastic result very quickly and for a very reasonable cost on something that was far from straightforward. She is client friendly and highly skilled. Overall, Nicole is a very impressive lawyer who I would recommend without reservation. I would also add that SEN Legal are very organised and easy to deal with as a client.
Lawyer named in this review: Nicole Lee
A representative from SEN Legal Limited responded to this review on 15 April, 2024
Thank you for your kind words. We're delighted Nicole could assist effectively with your son's case, ensuring his EHCP was maintained for another year. We appreciate your recommendation and are pleased to have provided a smooth experience. Best Regards, SEN Legal Limited
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Expert Service Provided
SEN Legal have helped us enormously for many years with two of our children’s SEN. Melinda Nettleton, Nicole Lee (and the whole team) have provided invaluable legal advice to us- resulting in a successful outcome every time. We highly recommend them.
Lawyer named in this review: Nicole Lee
A representative from SEN Legal Limited responded to this review on 11 October, 2023
Thank you for your kind words and for trusting SEN Legal with your children's SEN matters. We're pleased to hear that Melinda, Nicole, and our entire team have been able to provide invaluable legal advice, resulting in successful outcomes. Your recommendation means a lot to us. If you ever require our assistance again, please don't hesitate to reach out.
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