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Disputes, education and employment

The disputes, education and employment teams provide advice and handle legal matters for the public.

Disputes

Our disputes team represent and advise Suffolk County Council in legal matters where the public are affected by areas which the Council is responsible for

We advise on insurance claim cases such as vehicle/property damage, employment claims, negligence and Human Rights Act matters and defamation against the Council.

Our expert litigators act quickly and consult from the outset to produce a considered plan of action that ensures a swift, effective conclusion for the Council which also represents value for money with regard to the public purse. Our knowledgeable team members have experience in all areas of law.

We are on hand to help the Council when a dispute arises and will always pursue the most cost effective and pragmatic outcome.

We apply the experience and specialist knowledge of our experts across all of our legal teams to ensure that your dispute is resolved proficiently and skilfully.

The team

Employment

The Employment Team has experience of advising in a wide range of both contentious and non-contentious employment issues offering practical and straightforward advice to assist with all your employment related needs. This includes dealing with employment related disputes as well as matters relating to organisational change, policy and procedure.

The team provide advice on all aspects of employment law within Suffolk Legal, working closely with HR to support officers across the County Council as well as all external clients.

Support and advice are provided on a broad range of subjects including:

  • grievances and disciplinary matters
  • capability matters including both performance and sickness absence
  • settlement agreements
  • TUPE transfers
  • redundancy and restructures
  • discrimination
  • whistleblowing
  • contracts, policies and procedures
  • working time and leave (including family related leave)
  • employment tribunal claims

The team also have experience in dealing with matters in the Employment Appeal Tribunal as well as class actions in the Employment Tribunal.

The team

Education

The Education team supports officers across the council involving education law and providing advice and support on a range of subjects including:

  • special educational needs and disability
  • applications to the SEND Tribunal
  • school performance
  • organisation and governance
  • education funding
  • school transport
  • admissions and exclusions
  • elective home education
  • children missing in education
  • complaints
  • judicial review

The team also supports headteachers and governing bodies of maintained schools for general legal advice on any issue as needed. This is either answering them directly or passing to other teams within Legal Services for further specialist advice.

The team