Jim Hirschmann > Chambers of David Berkley KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Jim Hirschmann

Work Department

Administrative and Public Law, Education, Family

Position

Jim Hirschmann practices in health, social care, education and family law. He has a particular interest and expertise in public law challenges related to his core practice areas (see more details on his expertise in these areas below). Many of his cases involve acting for or against local authorities.

Jim is hardworking, thorough and adept at explaining complex law in straightforward terms. This is reflected in comments from solicitors such as “a huge thank you for everything you have done on this case which went far and beyond” and comments from judges about Jim’s advocacy as “helpful” and “extremely clear.”

Outside of busy work demands, Jim enjoys sport with a particular interest in rugby, running and squash. He likes travelling and has an armchair interest in philosophy.

Jim is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. Please contact him for a copy of his privacy notice which sets out the basis upon which any personal data he may collect about you, or that is provided to him, will be processed. He will provide a copy of this to you within two working days of receiving the request.

Administrative and Public Law

Judicial review

Jim Hirschmann has a very strong public law and education law practice. He is regularly instructed by claimants and defendants in judicial review claims.

His public law practice has seen him successfully challenge the decisions of local authorities relating to public child law, homelessness, education and other regulatory matters including licensing by Ofsted.

Public inquiries

Jim accepts instructions on behalf of public inquiries and core participants.

He has experience acting as a second junior counsel team member for a major public inquiry. This means he has familiarity with the Inquiries Act 2005, the Inquiry Rules 2006, rule 9 drafting and complex document management utilising relativity (including delivering training).

Recent notable cases

A v B – Jim drafted judicial review grounds concerning (1) a local authority’s failure to secure provision specified in an Education Health and Care Plan in breach of section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014 (2) a school’s failure to admit a pupil contrary to section 43 of the Children and Families Act 2014. The claim succeeded.

C v D – Jim successfully drafted grounds of appeal under section 204 of the Housing Act 1996 with the result that the local authority conceded the unsuitability of the property offered and made an offer afresh.

E v F – Jim drafted correspondence on behalf of his client following a local authority’s failure to offer proper support to a special guardian. It resulted in an extensive training package being offered to his client and reconsideration of the financial support due.

Court of Protection 

Jim Hirschman accepts instructions in both health and welfare and property and affairs decisions. His experience in judicial review and family has contributed to making him a thoughtful and effective advocate who helps find acceptable solutions to parties’ strongly held but conflicting views.

Health and Welfare

Jim has experience in health and welfare matters. He has worked on cases concerning:

• conflicting capacity evidence, including fluctuating capacity
• forced marriage protection orders
• capacity declarations and best interests decisions including issues relating to sexual relations, marriage, care, residence, medical treatment and alcohol consumption
• where a young adult with significant health needs should be educated

He is regularly instructed by private individuals and local authorities.

Property and Affairs

In the property and affairs context, Jim has experience of cases involving:

• conflicting capacity evidence
• applications to appoint a deputy
• disputes around enduring or lasting powers of attorney
• matters complicated by the involvement of trusts, alleged dissipation of assets, extent of a deputy’s authority, disputed wills and complex business and land ownership arrangements

He has been instructed by private individuals, local authorities and by the Office of the Public Guardian.

Inherent Jurisdiction of the High Court, or Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults and Children

Jim has been regularly instructed in cases involving the inherent jurisdiction of the high court often related to issues of deprivation of liberty in cases involving a young person’s drug abuse, exploitation or involvement in organised crime.

With a Master of Laws (LLM) in public law, he is well placed to consider challenges against the decisions of local authorities (including judicial reviews and claims under the Human Rights Act 1998).

Medical Treatment

Jim is willing to accept instructions surrounding medical treatment. He has experience of best interests decision concerning addiction, rehabilitation and the way in which medication should be administered.

He is often instructed by local authorities.

Notable cases include:

A v Z – instructed by a local authority who sought a deprivation of liberty order. The case related to a young person who had run away from her care home and suffered significant harm after becoming involved with suspected members of a county lines network. The deprivation of liberty order was granted under the inherent jurisdiction of the high court.

B v C – represented a mother in a forced marriage protection case that raised issues of capacity to marry, capacity to consent to sexual relations and the jurisdiction of the family court.

E v F – acted for the Office of the Public Guardian in a matter concerning an invalid lasting power of attorney and cross-border assets. The registration of the lasting power of attorney was duly to be cancelled.

Education

Jim Hirschmann’s education law practice, in the context of secondary schools, has seen him successfully represent children who were appealing the decision to exclude them from their school under the Education Act 2002. He also has experience acting in appeals in the SEND Tribunal, often relating to Education, Care and Health Plans. He is regularly instructed by claimants and defendants in judicial review claims against local authorities and schools.

In higher education, Jim has experience of advising students and universities on student disciplinaries, contractual disputes and governance (including of students’ unions). As a solicitors’ agent he regularly attended county court hearings (completing 188 hearings prior to pupillage) and was regularly concerned with applications to set aside default judgment, strike out and case management hearings. He is therefore well placed to assist clients in managing their case through the civil courts and tribunals.

In a regulatory context he has experience of considering challenges to licensing decisions made by Ofsted. His experience in public child family means he is experienced in working for and against local authorities.

Recent notable cases:

A v B – Jim successfully persuaded an independent review panel that the decision to permanently exclude a pupil, due to gang-related violence, should be reconsidered as the school had not done enough to explore options other than expulsion.

B v C – Jim represented an international university facing a six-figure claim for breach of a franchise agreement and through written negotiations improved his client’s position by over £100,000.

C v D – Jim represented a student challenging the decision to suspend him from his university and successfully mitigated the sanction imposed.

E v F – Jim represented an excluded child before a governors’ review panel. The pupil had been permanently excluded for bringing a BB gun into school and discharging it. The case involved legal submissions in relation to a headteacher’s discretion to depart from the school’s policy. The governors ordered the pupil’s reinstatement.

Family 

Jim Hirschmann’s family law practice is focussed on child law. His work has a public emphasis. He also has experience in private child cases and of injunctive relief sought following allegations of domestic violence.

His family work is complemented by his expertise in judicial review, education law and the Court of Protection.

Care and adoption

Jim accepts instructions from local authorities, parents, wider relatives (including prospective guardians) and children who are involved in care proceedings. He has experience of cases involving non-accidental injury to the subject child. He is regularly instructed in cases involving the inherent jurisdiction of the high court often related to issues of forced marriage, deprivation of liberty and secure accommodation orders.

With a Master of Laws (LLM) in public law, he is well placed to consider challenges against the decisions of local authorities (including judicial reviews and claims under the Human Rights Act 1998).

Notable cases include:

B v F – acted for a local authority that sought authorisation for the deprivation of liberty in relation to a young person found in a property known for heavy drug usage, including heroin. The case involved circumstances where there was no suitable secure accommodation unit nor children’s home available. The inherent jurisdiction of the High Court was invoked to protect the young person whilst attempts to secure a more suitable placement continued.

G v H – acted for the local authority in a five day fact-find hearing and up to final hearing. Significant findings were made against the parents in relation to serious non-accidental injuries suffered by the child including a lip laceration, left radial shaft fracture, an injury to the left femur and multiple bruises. The case involved consideration of ambiguous expert medical evidence. Adoption and placement orders were ultimately made.

F v M – acted for a local authority in a contested seven day final hearing involving allegations of corruption, drug abuse, domestic violence and peripheral serious organised crime. The local authority’s care plan was endorsed and the final order that they sought was made.

B v Y – instructed to act on behalf of a local authority who sought an emergency protection order. The case related to children who had been exposed to prolonged neglect. The order was granted.

Re FL (a Child): [2020] EWCA Civ 20 – as a pupil, assisted in the successful defence of a special guardianship order in favour of a maternal grandmother.

Private Law Children

Jim acts in private law applications representing clients in applications relating to arrangements for children under the Children Act 1989. He advises on residence, contact and other orders including, for example, orders relating to passports.

Jim has experience of all types of hearings, including fact finding hearings and multi-day final hearings. He is able to quickly appreciate the key issues and works closely with solicitors to ensure that cases are well prepared. His cases regularly concern allegations of serious domestic violence including of coercive and controlling behaviour.

Jim frequently acts for clients affected by domestic violence who are seeking or responding to an application for a non-molestation and/or occupation order under the Family Law Act 1996.

Notable cases include:

E v F – Successfully appealed against a case management decision of Magistrates who wrongly (1) refused to admit evidence of a non-party witness and (2) changed their order after giving judgment.

 

Career

Called: 2018

Memberships

• Attorney General’s ‘Junior Juniors’ Panel
• Court of Protection Bar Association
• The Constitutional & Administrative Law Bar Association

Education

• University of Law, BPTC: Very Competent
• University College London, LLM Public Law: Merit
• University of Westminster, LLB European Legal Studies: First Class Honours
• Erasmus, Free University of Berlin: First Class Equivalent (Averaged ECTS Grade A)