Biography
I joined Irwin Mitchell in April 2022 and I am currently a paralegal specialising in Education Law.
I assist solicitors representing children, parents and young adults in a wide range of education related public law matters in both private and publicly funded work.
I am currently gaining experience advising and representing parents in all types of SEND appeals to the First Tier Tribunal in relation to their child's Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). I also have experience supporting parents with requests for EHC needs assessments the contents of an EHC plan, securing suitable provision and appropriate schools, and the annual review process.
In addition to assisting on SEN cases, I have experience in other areas of education law including exclusions, admissions, and education related Judicial Review actions against Local Authorities such as SEN transport and failure to implement EHCP provision or children out of school.
I am also gaining experience in defending Disability Discrimination claims brought by parents against schools involving SEN.
I also focus on the firm's Responsible Business approach. I sit on the Public Law and Human Rights Pro Bono Committee and regularly engage in volunteering around Social Action, both within the firm and in my free time.
Testimonials
"Ollie was brilliant! Really helpful and supportive." - Social Worker
“Esther Salter was fantastic. She was very friendly caring and approachable. Esther responded quickly to queries and always went the extra mile to help. Esther talked me through the steps involved in our EHCP appeal and explained things with great patience. Esther was really knowledgeable, gave clear, easy to understand and logical advice allowing us to make an informed decision about the next steps to be taken. Ollie Butters was a whizz with documents and the bundle and saved us many hours of work. We wished we had been able to seek legal advice/ support sooner Esther and Ollie were great to work with. We felt very confident that Esther and Ollie were part of an excellent team supporting us. We’re really grateful to have had their support as it helped us achieve an excellent outcome at tribunal.” 5* Trust Pilot review
"I reached out to Irwin Mitchelle solicitors as I found the pressure of supporting my daughter who was not attending school as her mainstream school wasn’t meeting her educational needs, focusing on liaising with the Local Authority and getting evidence ready for SEND tribunal all too consuming. I felt guilty that I could not give my daughter the time and focus she needed. The moment I handed over the reins to Esther and Ollie a massive weight was taken off my shoulders, they were attentive to my daughter's needs and supported me, providing options with pros and cons to each recommendation. There was no pressure for me to make rushed decisions, all decisions made were well-informed. Once decisions were made, they undertook next steps with professionalism and in a very timely manner acting on our behalf.
With the compiling of my daughter's thoughts and lived experience and challenges with learning, factual evidence and using relevant policy and legislation, Esther and Ollie were able to present this to the Local Authority and work with them to come to an agreement that meant that the EHCP sections B,F, and I were agreed without having to take to the Final SEND tribunal hearing. This is a great result for my daughter in that her educational needs can now be met, she is now at a school that can meet her needs we are now two weeks into her new school and she is enjoying her education, she says the teachers are good and help her to learn and most importantly is happy and feels comfortable in her environment, this is also great for our family as we can focus on being a family.
I cannot thank Esther and Ollie enough for their kindness, encouragement, direction and support. I would highly recommend to any person who is supporting their child with their educational needs." 5* Trust Pilot review
"We cannot recommend Esther Salter and Ollie Butters at Irwin Mitchell highly enough. We turned to them during an incredibly difficult time while facing a complex disability discrimination claim, and from the very beginning, their support was nothing short of superb. The solicitors we worked with were not only highly professional and knowledgeable, but also deeply empathetic and genuinely committed to achieving the best possible outcome for us. They took the time to truly understand our situation, explained every step of the legal process with clarity and patience, and provided much-needed reassurance when things felt overwhelming. What really stood out was their knowledge of the SEND process and the wider system of school support. Their insight into both the legal and educational landscape was invaluable, and they navigated the complexities with confidence and care, ensuring we felt supported every step of the way. Their attention to detail, strategic thinking, and unwavering dedication gave us real confidence throughout the case. Most importantly, they brought a compassionate and human approach to everything they did, which made a world of difference during such a challenging time. Thanks to their outstanding work and guidance, we achieved the result we hoped for. We are incredibly grateful to the entire team at Irwin Mitchell and would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone in need of expert, supportive, and highly capable legal representation." - 5* Trustpilot Review
