Education News

3PB posts a 20% increase in its rankings in Chambers and Partners’ 2027 edition

15th October 2026

3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) has broken its previous record of individual rankings in the latest, 2027 edition of Chambers and Partners. The national chambers' rankings rose by 20% to a total of 123 separate ratings (104 last year), including 24 new rankings, for 94 of its barristers. The 2027 guide saw accolades for 3PB in 23 areas of law across the London Bar as well as in the North Eastern, South Eastern, Western and...

3PB Barristers’ celebrated London Education Law team is pleased to announce two barrister rankings in Chambers and Partners’ new Education section in the Regions. The team remains ranked in Band 3 at the London bar with 6 individual rankings. Our barristers are in turn described as “ferociously intelligent”, “phenomenal”, “able to unpick complex matters quickly” and “deeply experienced” by clients and peers. The Education clerking team is praised for its outstanding support: "Tom Cox, senior...

3PB breaks through the 200 rankings ceiling in the Legal 500’s 2027 edition 

2nd October 2026

3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings), one of the UK's largest chambers, has this year again surpassed all expectations in the latest Legal 500 UK Bar rankings achieving a record number of 203 rankings, including 20 new rankings. 128 of 3PB’s barristers are now ranked in the Legal 500. The set is ranked in 28 areas of law across London, Midlands, South Eastern, Western and in the Middle East. This year, the national chambers gains a...

3PB’s education law team is delighted to have retained its London Tier 3 ranking in the Legal 500 2027 published today. The team achieves 8 rankings in London and one in the Midlands with 8 of the team’s 18 barristers now ranked in the directory. The Legal 500 comments that ‘3PB demonstrates a strong and well-established depth of knowledge in SEND matters. Counsel consistently shows a clear understanding of the legal framework alongside the practical...

Emma Calvert appears as guest on ‘Get Legally Speaking’ podcast

18th June 2026

3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) education barrister, Emma Calvert, appears as guest on ‘Get Legally Speaking’ podcast discussing what every parent needs to know: behaviour is often communication, and a child’s difficulties should not be dismissed without asking why they are struggling and what support they may need. Hosted by Hatti Suvari, in this episode they explore what parents can do when their child is struggling at school, what legal duties schools and local councils...

Alice de Coverley and Barry McTaggart offer practical guidance on SEND White Paper

11th May 2026

3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) specialist education, equality and public law barrister Alice de Coverley and personal injury and education pupil barrister Barry McTaggart have written for LexisNexis on the government’s recent SEND White Paper. The ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ White Paper was published in February this year, alongside the consultation document ‘SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First’. In their analysis, Alice and Barry explore the key proposals within the documents, including...

Second six pupil Barry McTaggart is now accepting instructions

13th April 2026

3PB (3 Paper Buildings) are pleased to announce that our second six pupil, Barry McTaggart, is now on his feet and accepting instructions on his own cases, following the commencement of his pupillage last October. Barry McTaggart will now accept instructions in personal injury, clinical negligence and education. For instructions or availability, please contact Jordon Gallifant on [email protected] or call 020 7583 8055.

Jim Hirschmann highlights the Court of Protection Bar Association’s work in co-ordinating a Frontal Lobe Paradox article

31st March 2026

3PB’s education and social care barrister, Jim Hirschmann has helped co-ordinate an article ‘Frontal Lobe Paradox: A Practical Guide for Lawyers’ with the Court of Protection Bar Association. This practical guide has been developed by a multidisciplinary team to support lawyers working with clients where the so-called ‘frontal lobe paradox’ (FLP) may arise. Its primary aims are to explain what FLP is; outline how it may manifest in individuals; highlight its implications for assessing capacity under...

Katherine Anderson leads Jim Hirschmann in SEN case before CoA

26th March 2026

3PB's barristers Katherine Anderson and Jim Hirschmann acted in the case London Borough of Hillingdon v AP & Anor [2026] EWCA Civ 216. Jim was led by Kath and represented the respondents in this Special Educational Needs (SEN) case before the Court of Appeal (CoA). This case concerned two main issues consisting of whether the child needed residential provision and the extent to which section 9 of the Education Act 1996 imposed a positive duty...

High Court dismisses challenge to Academy exclusions

9th March 2026

3PB Barristers’ (3 Paper Buildings) Ben Amunwa successfully represented the HS Academy Trust in the recent case of R (PZP) v HS Academy Trust and another [2026] EWHC 489 (Admin), concerning a judicial review challenge to two permanent exclusions. The High Court considered claims by pupils PZP and STW against the Academy Trust’s decision to permanently exclude them following their involvement in a serious assault on a fellow student. The decision in R (PZP) is significant...

Disabled children’s social care reform: Liz Adams on the Law Commission’s final report

12th February 2026

Liz Adams, education and family law barrister at 3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings), has published a new article in the February edition of the Family Law Journal titled “Disabled Children’s Social Care: Final Report.” In the article, Liz provides an in-depth analysis of the Law Commission’s first major review of disabled children’s social care over three decades. She examines three key areas of legal significance, first being the introduction of new statutory principles governing disabled...

Katherine Anderson authors ‘A Practical Guide to Education, Health and Care Plan Appeals in England – Second Edition’

10th February 2026

Katherine Anderson, an education law specialist and barrister at 3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings), ranked as a Leading Junior by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500, has published a second edition of her successful book ‘A Practical Guide to Education, Health and Care Plan Appeals in England’. This book examines the relevant statutory framework and case law, alongside the rules and procedures of the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal governing these appeals. More than 1.7...