Service Description

The South London Legal partnership is a shared service hosted by Merton providing legal services to the councils and schools of the London Boroughs of Merton, Richmond, Sutton, Wandsworth and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The service provides legal advice and representation in relation to a comprehensive range of legal issues facing schools on a day to day basis.  

SLA services offered 

Legal advice, support and representation on: 

  • Employment law and employment tribunals 
  • School involvement in family proceedings and parental responsibility issues 
  • Assistance with complaints 
  • Drafting and negotiating legal agreements (contracts, leases, licences, etc) 
  • Conduct of litigation (courts, tribunals, mediation, arbitration) 
  • Misconduct on school premises 
  • Representation (exclusion appeals, SENDIST) 
  • Admission of pupils to schools 
  • Exclusion of pupils 
  • Service tenancy issues 
  • Contractual disputes 
  • Possession proceedings 
  • Special educational needs and disability discrimination 
  • School governance advice  

SLA pricing

How costs are computed: 

The amount charged will depend on the amount of time taken to complete a matter.  Time is electronically recorded in units each of 6 minutes duration. 

Charge for 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 

Time charge based on: 

£67 per hour 

  

The work undertaken by the legal service legal adviser will be charged at an hourly rate of £67 per hour – this is the same rate at which other council services are charged; an estimate of fees will be given at the commencement of a matter and a detailed report of time spent will be provided. 

Schools will be charged for the use of counsel/external legal providers where required but this will not be commissioned without the prior agreement of the school. 

Schools will be charged disbursements (i.e. court fees, expert's fees etc.) 

Schools will be liable for compensation or damages awarded against the school, and the other party's costs should a litigation case be lost and costs are awarded to the other party.  

Contacts

If you require additional information please contact either: 

Fiona Thomsen
Tel: 020 8545 3897
Fax: 020 8545 3244 
Email: fiona.thomsen@merton.gov.uk 

Sarah Willis 
Tel: 020 8545 3339 
Fax: 020 8545 3244 
Email: sarah.willis@merton.gov.uk