News & Events
News & Events
![The Upper Tribunal has recently handed down judgment on the case of Governing Body of T School v AA and RA [2023] UKUT 311 (AAC). Education law specialist, Alex Line, represented the appellant in this case concerning disability discrimination in schools.](https://www.outertemple.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Alex-Line-successful-in-Upper-Tribunal-appeal-concerning-disability-discrimination-in-schools-1-1-550x370.png)
The Upper Tribunal has recently handed down judgment on the case of Governing Body of T School v AA and RA [2023] UKUT 311 (AAC). Education law specialist, Alex Line, represented the appellant in this case concerning disability discrimination in schools. In Governing Body of T School v AA and RA [2023] UKUT 311 (AAC), Alex Line represented the successful appellant in a case which provides important analysis of the time limit provisions of the Equality Act 2010 concerning schools (a point covered extensively in relation to Employment Tribunal jurisdiction, but hitherto not in relation to the First-tier Tribunal’s jurisdiction under that Act). The primary time limit for bringing a claim for disability discrimination against the governing body of a…
News 1 Mar, 2024
The Employment Tribunal has handed down its judgment in Clayson & Ors v Ministry of Justice & Lord Chancellor in which Andrew Allen KC and Alexander Line represented the successful party. Judgment was handed down on 31st August 2023 by the Employment Tribunal in a group claim brought by salaried Circuit Judges, relying on their former Recorder status, in Clayson & Others v Ministry of Justice & Lord Chancellor (Case No: 2204416/2022 & Others). Andrew Allen KC and Alexander Line represented the successful party in this part-time worker challenge. Following their recent success in the EAT in Ministry of Justice & Lord Chancellor v Dodds [2023] UKEAT 31, Andrew Allen KC and Alexander Line, instructed by the Government Legal Department,…
News 1 Sep, 2023
The High Court has recently handed down judgment in an important case relating to school admissions arrangements, and the Office of the School Adjudicator’s (‘OSA’) functions when considering complaints about them. Alex Line acted for London Borough of Bromley. Alex Line acted for the second Interested Party, London Borough of Bromley, in a judicial review that was brought against the OSA by Mr Sharpe. Another interested party, the Impact Multi Academy Trust (which was the admissions authority in relation to the schools considered in the case) was also involved. The Secretary of State for Education intervened. The decision can be viewed here: Robert Sharp, R (on the application of) v The Office of the Schools Adjudicator. The case, had it…
News 26 May, 2023
Judgment was handed down by the Employment Appeal Tribunal (‘EAT’) on 7th March 2023 in a group claim brought by salaried judges; Ministry of Justice & Lord Chancellor v Mr R Dodds & Others [2023] EAT 31. Andrew Allen KC and Alexander Line represented the Ministry of Justice and Lord Chancellor. The Background Claims had been brought by a group of salaried judges under the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000. Representative claims from that group were determined by the Employment Tribunal (‘ET’) in December 2021. Three of the representative claimants were salaried Circuit Judges who each had authorisation to sit in the High Court under s.9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981. They claimed that, when…
News 10 Mar, 2023
We are pleased to share that Alex Line has recently been appointed to the Attorney General’s London B Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown. Outer Temple’s Alex line has recently been successful in joining the Attorney General’s London B Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown. He will be appointed for a period of 5 years, starting on 1st September 2022 and Ending in August 2027. We congratulate Alex on his success. Find out more Alex Line specialises in the areas of employment and education law. He has extensive employment and discrimination law experience, having practised in these areas throughout his career at the Bar. He has a broad range of experience in education law matters, with particular expertise in the law relating…
News 17 Aug, 2022
In A Parent v Governing Body of XYZ School, Alex Line successfully represented the Defendant in a judicial review challenging a school exclusion decision, which has been dismissed by the High Court. The case concerned A Pupil, who had been permanently excluded from a maintained school for sending obscene images of a sexual nature to a younger female pupil from his mobile phone. This was against a background whereby the female pupil had made disclosures alleging serious sexual misconduct towards her by a number of pupils, including A Pupil, which had been referred to the police for investigation. The Head Teacher’s decision to exclude had initially been upheld by the school’s governing body. A Pupil’s parent then exercised her right…
News 16 May, 2022
Alex Line was recently successful in an important Upper Tribunal appeal, JL (by EA as appointed person) v Somerset County Council. This appeal concerned the duration of an Education Health Care Plan and the reasons for the decision have now been published. The Background In JL (by EA as appointed person) v Somerset County Council [2021] UKUT 324 (AAC), Alex successfully represented the appellant. On 25 August 2021, Upper Tribunal Judge Ward gave a decision allowing the appeal and set aside the decision of the First-tier Tribunal. This case is of importance because it contains consideration of the meaning of the term ‘academic year’ and establishes that, in certain situations, an Education Health Care Plan can extend to the day…
News 13 Jan, 2022
Alex Line represented the respondent local authority in an appeal to the Upper Tribunal from a decision of the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs & Disability). The Appellant complained that the hearing lacked procedural fairness to her as a disabled litigant, and should be overturned. The Upper Tribunal accepted Alex’s arguments that the Tribunal has taken sufficient steps to ensure fairness in the proceedings, and dismissed the appeal accordingly. The decision is of interest for three main reasons (the first two of which may not be limited to the SEND jurisdiction in application): (i) it considers the question of fairness in the context of remote hearings, which have become commonplace in the First-tier Tribunal as well as in other jurisdictions…
News 1 Sep, 2021
Following the case of Surrey CC v NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group (2020), Alexander Line and Carin Hunt consider how the claim in restitution is of importance to those advising and representing local authorities. Analysing Surrey CC v Lincolnshire CCG, Alexander and Carin consider the law on unjust enrichment and the four key elements to a claim for unjust enrichment in their most recent article. The authors also consider the Clinical Commissioning Group’s defence of invoking the exclusivity principle laid down in O’Reilly v Mackman [1983] 2 A.C. 237. Considering the decision of the High Court, Alex and Carin contemplate the potential consequences for education law, including the restitution for costs incurred by public bodies and restitution for costs incurred…
Legal Blogs 10 Feb, 2021
A Level, GCSE and other exam results are currently being published but what effect has the pandemic had on results? Alex Line considers what is known about the recent policy decisions affecting students this summer, and analyses their potential impact from a legal perspective. A Level results were published today, with GCSE results due to be published soon after on 20th August 2020. As has been widely reported, significant changes to the examination process have been implemented at short notice due to the impact of Coronavirus. Alex Line considers what is known about the recent policy decisions affecting students this summer, and analyses their potential impact from a legal perspective. Article The article can be read here. About the Author Alex…
Covid-19 13 Aug, 2020
We are delighted to announce that Alexander Line has been appointed to the Attorney General’s C panel. Alex’s appointment starts on 2 September and runs for five years. Government relies on the panels for advice, guidance and representation which means that Alex, ranked by Chambers & Partners for his expertise, will be available to carry out work for the Crown across his main areas of practice of public law and employment law. Alexander is a civil practitioner, whose practice is focused particularly on the areas of education, social welfare, court of protection, public law, employment and discrimination. He regularly appears in employment tribunals, county courts and different chambers of the First-Tier Tribunal. He also has High Court, Employment Appeal Tribunal,…
News 17 Jul, 2019
Chambers is pleased to announce the appointments of Claire van Overdijk, Sarah Crowther QC, Alex Line and Katarina Sydow on their recent appointments to the Equality & Human Rights Commission panel of counsel. Claire is appointed to the A panel and Sarah and Alex are appointed to B panel with Katarina appointed to C panel. They all look forward to working with the Commission and assisting in representation and advisory cases. The appointments run from 1st April 2019 for a term of four years.
News 16 May, 2019
