Teachers Defence Service, UK

Introduction

We advise teachers and lecturers (and those regulated persons who work in education) who are facing investigation by their regulators, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. We also represent teachers at conduct and competence hearings, or where they have been convicted of a criminal offence. We can also advise on criminal and civil law as it affects teachers, in some instances, being heard in other courts.

Facing a regulator unassisted can be extremely stressful. Our lawyers are experienced in regulatory law and can advise teachers on the steps that they can take to improve their prospects of success. There is a great deal that a teacher can do to increase their prospects of success. Even where removal from the teaching register of (where a prohibition order is imposed), a teacher can provide evidence that could give them a greater prospect of one day returning to the teaching profession, in some cases.

Our Team

Teachers Defence Service is headed by a lawyer who has more than 20 years experience of acting in regulatory cases for professionals. Our lawyers undergo regular training and updates to ensure that they are able to do their jobs.

Getting the right representation is crucial to a teacher’s success. While there are no guarantees in any one case, the experience of our lawyers and our clients is that if extensive preparation is undertaken the outcome is often better than was hoped for. See our guidance on improving prospects of success through written submissions and statments, and showing insight in regulatory and local complaint resolution processes.

Fees

Our lawyers can provide guidance on fees and we charged fixed fees for initial advice, so that costs are manageable. You can call our lawyers on their personal lines, so that you have access to them without having to go through a secretary. More on Fees.

See also our guidance on our compliance requirements, which includes our complaints policy, data and privacy policy.

Our Input

We seek to help teachers gain insight where it may be lacking or only just emerging, or help a teacher to . We can also advise on expert opinions, statements, exhibits, legal submissions, skeleton arguments, case law, public policy, challenging unfair processes, appeals, judicial reviews, inquests relating to schools and educational establishments, and civil law, and criminal law matter relating to a teacher’s practice or personal life which may have an impact on future career propsects.

We represent teachers at hearings before teaching regulators, the courts, and tribunals. We also represent teachers and lecturers in appeals. See our various web pages for guidance on how to defend yourself before the teaching regulators. We recommend that teachers take legal advice before corresponding with a regulator. We can advise so that teachers can represent themselves, or we can also represent teachers at a regulatory hearing.

UK Coverage

Teachers Defence Service covers the whole of the United Kingdom in regulatory law and some other* legal specialisms where teachers need legal advice and assistance. We can represent regulated and unregulated teachers. We can be instructed by teachers in person, by their lawyers, insurers, or teaching unions.

Contact Us

Give us a call without obligation and in strict confidence to see how we can assist you. Our fees are competitive. We are a regulated organisation, and our lawyers carry indemnity insurance for the work that they carry out, so that you can have peace of mind. See our contact us page. For more information about our services, click on the relevant regulator below, or see our other pages if you require legal assistance in criminal law, civil law or other legal specialisms.

Teachers Defence Service

Select your Teaching Regulator, for more information

About Teachers Defence Service

Our legal services are provided by qualified lawyers, experienced in a wide-range of civil, legal and regulatory law. See our other pages for the full details of the legal services we provide to teachers and lecturers in the UK. We have particular expertise in regulatory and disciplinary law. See Our Services page for more information of the scope of our work that we can do in each of the four countries of the UK.

* We have full rights of audience in England and Wales and can advise teachers before their regulators in all four countries of the UK. We work with lawyers in Scotland and Northern Ireland, when a Right of Audience is required. Not all legal specialisms require a Right of Audience. This is rather esoteric stuff (based on regulations governing lawyers in the UK, as there are certain differences in practice requirements) and we will advise you on any elements of law that we can and cannot cover, and where we will need to additionally instruct a lawyer from a particular jurisdiction. We are regulated by the BSB Terms apply to all work that we undertake.