My legal life: Mital Raithatha, Coram Children’s Legal Centre

For over 10 years, I have represented and worked with children and young people in relation to their legal rights and entitlements. That has included supporting children who did not have anywhere safe to stay to obtain support from children’s services and care leavers to receive the support they are entitled to while transitioning into adulthood. I have also represented young people in challenging permanent exclusions from school and advised families regarding children’s special educational needs and disabilities. I have also contributed to strategic change in these areas. 

I joined Coram Children’s Legal Centre (CCLC) in August 2023 from Just for Kids Law. I was promoted to head of education law last year. My career began in a niche private practice, where I trained. However, my determination to work in social justice led me to pursue other opportunities. After qualifying, I volunteered at Just for Kids Law and then secured a position as an education and community care solicitor before eventually leading the team.

The world has changed dramatically and these changes have significantly affected children and young people. I have witnessed the impact of legal aid cuts, removing access to legal representation for challenging school exclusions, and obtaining legal advocacy at special educational needs and disability appeals hearings, despite seeing increased complexity in these cases. I have seen the issues young people face being intensified by the lack of available support, while resources become more and more stretched.

'A familiar voice called out. It was one of my very first clients who had continued for many years to be a youth ambassador. They hugged me, and before I could even ask how they were told me that the support I gave almost 10 years ago changed their life'

CCLC’s education law team provides dedicated legal advice to families about special educational needs and disability discrimination appeals in the First-tier Tribunal. CCLC has also set up the School Exclusions Clinic to provide pro bono legal advice and representation in relation to school exclusions, working with pro bono lawyers from corporate firms. This project has led to children and their families receiving invaluable legal advice and support, many children having the permanent exclusions removed from their records and children’s voices being heard during the process. Additionally, in a recent landmark case, our team successfully paved the way for families to access exceptional case funding for representation during independent review panel hearings, specifically on the grounds of race or disability discrimination.  

The work is incredibly challenging: from the lack of capacity and funding across the sector, to seeing the difficulties faced by young people and their families. What keeps me motivated is the resilience demonstrated by the young people and parents we work with. Their determination to fight for justice for themselves, their child and others, even in the face of adversity, is inspiring.

Last year at a conference the weather was really bad so I decided to leave early before it got worse. As I was rushing out of the packed room, a familiar voice called out. It was one of my very first clients, who had continued for many years to be a youth ambassador. They hugged me, and before I could even ask how they were told me that the support I gave almost 10 years ago changed their life. While I do not recall doing anything out of the ordinary in their legal case, in that moment I saw the ripple effect of the profound impact one small action can have on someone’s life, including their future career. That potential ripple effect, whether I know of it or not, is what motivates me. It is what gives me a sense of pride in what I do.

If I had not become a solicitor, I am not sure what career path I would have taken. My family immigrated to the UK without anything and I grew up watching them build their lives and businesses. Maybe I would have followed in their footsteps and run the chai stall in a market that my friend and I dreamed of as teenagers.