Who? Keith Lomax, judicial review and regulatory solicitor, Watkins Solicitors, Bristol.

Why is he in the news? Represented three children regarding a long-standing issue of delay in getting local authorities to update education, health and care (EHC) plans. The firm successfully persuaded the High Court in a judgment handed down this week that councils must keep to fixed legal time limits when reviewing the needs of children and young people with special educational needs.

Keith Lomax

Thoughts on the case: ‘This judgment will certainly impact on local authorities and on children with SEND across the country. We no longer expect local authorities [to say] “you are mistaken, we have eight weeks from sending out the draft EHC plan”. For over two years we have argued with numerous local authorities that they must complete the annual review process by issuing amended EHC plans within 12 weeks of the review. The judgment now makes it clear.

‘We expect that local authorities will now focus rather better on the preparation for annual reviews, to get the professional input in good time, to send information out to parents two weeks before the review, and get prepared to send out draft amended plans within four weeks of the annual review. It must also benefit schools who rely on the EHC plan to know what is needed as well as for the funding to pay for provision.’

Dealing with the media: ‘The media release and the firm’s blog have been bouncing. We have reports such as “I’m seeing this article pop up on all my Facebook groups for parents of children with SEND both local to me (so not local to you) and national.” I already have too much work to do and my inbox is filling up with new enquiries from parents seeking help for their children. There is a lot of interest from schools as well as parents, as they too are affected – hopefully positively.’

Why become a lawyer? ‘I was in my thirties, involved with lots of community action, and it was clear to me that vulnerable people needed sympathetic lawyers. When two friends independently suggested within a fortnight that I trained to be a solicitor I decided to do just that. These days I am told: “Don’t you dare retire!”’

Career high: ‘I guess, winning Connors v UK at the ECtHR and seeing “proportionality” take its proper place in possession and eviction cases.’

Career low: ‘Battling with the Legal Aid Agency for tuppence ha’penny.’

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