Hayley Mason-Seager > SEN Legal > Bury St Edmunds, England > Lawyer Profile

SEN Legal
3 - 4 FORBES BUSINESS CENTRE
KEMPSON WAY
BURY ST EDMUNDS
IP32 7AR
England

Work Department

https://www.senlegal.co.uk/hayley-mason

Position

Senior Solicitor and Director

Career

I am Principal Solicitor and Director at SEN Legal; principally based at our offices in Cambridge although I represent clients nationally. I have successfully acted for parents across a number of Local Authority areas – from obtaining an EHC Needs Assessment right through to extremely complex post-19 Appeals. I have a vast range of expertise in SEND Tribunal work and I carry out all of the legal work involved with representing parents of children/young persons in the SEND Tribunal in order to obtain fundamental special educational provision for them.

I have excellent interpersonal skills in order to assure parents throughout the Appeal process and am skilled in explaining the complexities of what is an undeniably complex field. I am also specialist in the area of Court of Protection and have written a chapter on ‘Deputyship’ in ‘Special Educational Needs and Legal Entitlement, getting out of the maze 2nd edition’ which is written by our Principal Solicitor, Melinda Nettleton and co-author John Friel. I have experience in S21A challenges in the Court of Protection.

I am also Business Development Lead, so you will often find me at any of our big marketing events. I deliver presentations up and down the Country on all different topics in this area of the law to advocate parental rights. I regularly contribute to our quarterly newsletter and as part of my pro-bono work I am the Legal Columnist for the parent group ‘Special Needs Jungle’ where I provide free legal advice for those who may not otherwise be able to access this information.

Prior to joining SEN Legal in April 2014, I worked for 7 years in retail. Alongside this, I obtained LLB (Hons) 1st Class from Sheffield Hallam University and was awarded the Sweet and Maxwell Law Prize 2013, for the student receiving the highest mark on the LLB. I was originally drawn to this area of law due to my exposure of special needs and children not getting the right support through my mother’s career as a special educational needs teacher. I completed my Training Contract at SEN Legal and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in May 2016. I was promoted to Senior Solicitor in 2018.

Alongside my legal work, I am an avid Chelsea FC supporter and enjoy reading, keeping fit and spending time with family and friends.

Lawyer Rankings

London > Public sector > Education: individuals

Boutique firm SEN Legal is unique in its focus entirely on work related to special educational needs and disabilities, in the context of which it is ‘consistently successful‘ in achieving positive outcomes for clients in Tribunal appeals against local authorities’ school placement decisions, EHC plan rejections, exclusions, and insufficient provisions for education other than at school. The team provides also provides a significant amount of pro bono advice to the parents of children with autism and dyslexia. Cambridge-based lawyer Hayley Mason is well-regarded for her advice on school placement issues, and both Melinda Nettleton and Richard Nettleton, who are based in Bury St Edmunds, are highly recommended for their expertise in SEN Tribunal appeals.

East Anglia > Public sector > Public sector

(Leading individuals)

Hayley MasonSEN Legal