Rook Irwin Sweeney
Award winning specialist public law and human rights firm. Judicial review | education law | health & social care | mental capacity | environmental law
www.rookirwinsweeney.co.uk
- Today is #HumanRightsDay. Alongside the British Institute of Human Rights (BIHR) and 180+ organisations we’ve signed a letter to the Prime Minister to call for leadership that strengthens rights, not weakens them. Read the letter here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/human-rights... 1/3
- @ris-law.bsky.social's Partner @anne-marieirwin.bsky.social is attending a special event hosted by the BIHR today celebrating 75 years of the European Convention on Human Rights and 25 years of our Human Rights Act #HRD25 2/3
- You can find out more about the day and its aims here: www.bihr.org.uk/our-work/our.... #HRD25 3/3
- On #InternationalDayofPersonswithDisabilities, we reaffirm our commitment to working alongside clients towards a world where disabled people are treated with dignity, equity, and respect. A reminder of one of our recent cases in which our disabled clients used the law to protect their rights: [1/2]
- Families of 8 disabled children challenged a local authority plan to redesignate special schools. The changes would have left pupils with severe physical disabilities, autism or mental health needs—but without complex learning difficulties—without any special school places. [2/2] #IDPWD2025
- We are delighted to be named as one of @thetimes.com best 250 law firms in England and Wales for 2026: www.thetimes.com/best-law-fir... #publiclaw #judicialreview #educationlaw #healthandsocialcare
- Commending our work in education law, @thetimes.com highlighted a number of the firm’s high-profile cases over the last year including our strategic work protecting the rights of disabled children and their families. Thank you to all who provided feedback 2/2
- Webinar Alert: Helping Your Child Navigate Education Transitions
- Is your child moving between stages of education this academic year or next? Join @bethparr.bsky.social and @jentwright.bsky.social from @ris-law.bsky.social for a free webinar offering expert guidance on preparing for transitions and handling EHCP placement decisions.
- They will be delivering a webinar on 29 October at 11am. Please email enquiries@rislaw.co.uk to register. #EducationLaw #SEND #Webinar #ParentSupport #RookIrwinSweeney
- "The lawyers are exceptional in every way. They are exquisite litigators that are friendly yet feisty." We’re delighted to have maintained strong rankings in Chambers and Partners 2026 in Administrative and Public Law, Education and Court of Protection (health and welfare).
- Sources recognised our "expert handling of public law and human rights challenges” and "considerable strengths across education, Court of Protection and healthcare-related public law matters”, valuing our "vast amount of experience" and "client-centric approach."
- Thank you to all our fantastic clients and colleagues who gave feedback.
- We are delighted to be recognised in the 2026 edition of Legal 500 once again this year, as ‘true fighters for some of the most vulnerable people in society’ and to have secured a Tier 1 ranking in Education for the second year running.
- Thank you to all who gave feedback. For more information, please see our website: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/rook-irwin-s...
- In the last year, the 10 children’s centres identified for closure served 4,810 children under the age of five and their parents, amounting to 19,688 visits. The affected centres are particularly relied upon by vulnerable families who may now face barriers to accessing vital early years support.
- The decision to close the centres was made despite widespread opposition from the local community and overwhelming concern raised during the public consultation process.
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View full threadYou can find out more on our website here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/judicial-rev...
- It's great to be at the #PDFConference2025 in Birmingham today. We're having some great conversations about how we can help #deputyship clients access #education #healthcare & #socialcare!
- Our client, supported by #JusticeforME, is crowdfunding for legal advice with the aim of ensuring that specialist health services needed by everyone living with ME/cfs are made available – find out more here: www.crowdjustice.com/case/justice... #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis @swastrosarah.bsky.social
- A judicial review of the CQC’s decision to register gender healthcare service Gender Plus Healthcare has been dismissed - @ris-law.bsky.social acted for the interested party, Gender Plus Healthcare, in successfully opposing the application 1/3
- The High Court found that the CQC’s decision was not irrational, in terms of both process and outcome, and that it did not frustrate the laws and policies that the CQC is required to implement (the ‘Padfield’ principle) 2/3
- Read the full judgment here rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/rook-irwin-s... 3/3
- The summer holidays are the perfect time to plan ahead for the next academic year for your child with #SEND with our fixed fee #EHCP “Health Check”. Details available on our website: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/new-fixed-fe...
- Our clients are #crowdfunding to save 10 children’s centres in Ealing providing vital local support to children and their families and which the Council is proposing to close - find out more and support the campaign here: www.crowdjustice.com/case/save-ea...
- ‘Failed by the system’: Polly Sweeney, Partner at @ris-law.bsky.social speaks to the Law Gazette @lawsocietygazette.bsky.social on ministerial messages on special educational needs: www.lawgazette.co.uk/news-focus/i...
- Delighted to announce that Stephanie McClymont has joined @ris-law.bsky.social as a paralegal, primarily assisting with our #SEND #education work. Welcome Stephanie! rookirwinsweeney.co.uk?specialist=s...
- Looking forward to supporting our solicitors Katie Sinclair and @jentwright.bsky.social tonight, both finalists at this evening's Legal Aid Lawyer of the year awards - always fantastic to hear about the inspirational #legalaid work of colleagues in the sector! @lalyawards.bsky.social #LALY25
- Very proud of our lawyers Jennifer Wright @jentwright.bsky.social and Katie Sinclair, finalists in this year's Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards - Jennifer for Public Law and Katie for Legal Aid Newcomer. A testament to their fantastic work for our legal aid clients @lalyawards.bsky.social #LALY25
- Immensely proud to have been one of the 17 trail-blazing organisations which took part in the UK #4DayWeek pilot this year, resulting in “extremely positive” findings in research published today.
- Along with all other pilot organisations we'll continue with our new working arrangement, a 9-day fortnight, with no loss of pay. The pilot has shown that we can maintain high levels of service, whilst improving employee wellbeing. We’ll continue to offer a full service to clients across the week.
- The next pilot runs from Autumn 2025 – more here: www.4dayweek.co.uk/national-pil...
- Team @ris-law.bsky.social were proud to take part in another #LondonLegalWalk yesterday, which has now raised over £500,000 for @londonlegal.bsky.social to support frontline free legal advice agencies across London and the South East #accesstojustice
- Our former client Alexander is swimming the English channel to raise money for @mencap.org.uk. Wishing him and the relay team the best of luck – you can donate to their cause here: www.justgiving.com/page/alexand... Good luck!
- Our @ris-law.bsky.social's Alex Rook and @39essexchambers.bsky.social @stevebroach.bsky.social attended @sxsw.com London yesterday, to discuss how the law protects young people, where it is failing them, and how to fight to promote and protect their rights in relation to #healthcare and #socialcare
- We are pleased to announce that Joana Rossi Cardenas has joined Rook Irwin Sweeney as an Administrator. You can find out more about Joana here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk?specialist=1... Welcome Joana!
- We are delighted to announce that Rook Irwin Sweeney’s Anisha Powel has been promoted from Litigation Assistant to Administrative Team Leader. Anisha joined our firm in January 2021 and has been an integral part of the firm’s administration team since. Very well deserved – congratulations Anisha!
- Very proud of our lawyers Jennifer Wright @jentwright.bsky.social and Katie Sinclair, finalists in this year's Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards - Jennifer for Public Law and Katie for Legal Aid Newcomer. A testament to their fantastic work for our legal aid clients @lalyawards.bsky.social #LALY25
- "Across the country we are seeing huge delays in initial assessments. There’s a blatant disregard for the rules." @ris-law.bsky.social's Polly Sweeney speaks to @thetimes.com about the continued delays in councils issuing EHC Plans for Children with Special Educational Needs and Disability #SEND 1/2
- You can access the article here [behind paywall]: www.thetimes.com/uk/education... 2/2
- We were recently instructed in a proposed #JudicialReview to Kent County Council’s “Special Schools Review” (a proposal to redesignate 7 special schools). Following pre-action correspondence sent on behalf of affected families, Kent has agreed not to take any steps to implement the decision. [1/2]
- Instead, it has agreed to make a fresh decision in due course, once necessary steps have been taken. You can find out more about the case, and read the letter before action, on our website here: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/proposed-jud... [2/2]
- @ris-law.bsky.social’s Alex Rook and Rosie Campbell delivered a webinar on behalf of @babicmorg.bsky.social on 18 March 2025 discussing the complex issue of mental capacity to make decisions about diet. If you missed it, you can access it here: tinyurl.com/45et2hnv
- Join us! We are recruiting for a Paralegal role *and* a part-time Administrator role. Deadline for applications is 5pm on 7 April 2025 - all details at the link below: rookirwinsweeney.co.uk/careers/
- Our clients the Continuing Care Parents Group are #crowdfunding to challenge cuts to vital care and support for an “alarming” number of disabled children in their area - find out more and support them here: www.crowdjustice.com/case/disable...
- @ris-law.bsky.social's Alex Rook and Rosie Campbell are delivering a free webinar on behalf of @babicmorg.bsky.social on 18 March between 12pm-1pm during #NutritionandHydrationWeek, exploring the complex issue of capacity to make informed choices about diet #mentalcapacity 1/2
- Sign up here: babicm.glueup.com/event/naviga... 2/2
- We're pleased to see that the Legal Aid Practitioners Group (LAPG) training module on Mental Health, Mental Capacity and Community Care Legal Aid has launched, co-written by our Rosie Campbell. You can find out more about the course on the LAPG's website: lapg.co.uk/training-sup... #accesstojustice
