Practice Areas
Administrative and Public Law
Polly has over 15 years’ experience in administrative and public law. She is highly regarded as a leader in her field. The focus of her practice is on judicial review cases against both central and local government relating to education, health and social care and she has a particular interest in strategic litigation involving the rights of disabled children and young people.
Education
Polly is highly experienced in all areas of education law including appeals to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal regarding EHC Plans and school placements, disability discrimination claims, and judicial reviews on a wide range of issues including failure to educate and funding for special educational needs.
She regularly advises parents, disabled children and young people, and schools on disputes involving admissions, exclusions, examinations, safeguarding, special educational needs, and wider complaints. Where possible, she seeks to resolve these types of dispute outside of court including through mediation. Polly also acts for teachers in misconduct proceedings before the Teaching Regulation Agency.
Court of Protection (Welfare)
Polly is an experienced health and welfare practitioner in the Court of Protection. She is an Accredited Legal Representative under the Law Society’s Mental Capacity (Welfare) Accreditation scheme, and is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor to represent P in proceedings relating to deprivation of liberty and disputes regarding capacity and best interests. She also acts for family members in disputes in the Court of Protection on a range of issues including medical treatment, marriage, residence, care, and contact.
As well as litigation within the Court of Protection, Polly is experienced in advising property and affairs deputies on welfare issues arising for their clients and acts as an expert witness on health and welfare issues for personal injury claims.
Career
Polly is one of the founding partners of Rook Irwin Sweeney, a specialist public law and human rights firm that launched in 2020.
Polly was named “Gazette Legal Personality of the Year” at the Law Society’s Excellence Awards 2020 for her ‘high profile campaigning role in litigation to maintain the educational rights of children with special educational needs’. She was also named Solicitor of the Year at Bristol Law Society Awards in 2014 and Assistant / Associate of the Year at Birmingham Law Society Awards in 2012. Polly was profiled in the Law Society Gazette in September 2021 about her journey into public law and human rights.
She was Chair of the Law Society’s Mental Health and Disability Committee from 2019 to 2022, and is a contributing author to the leading Legal Action Group publication – Disabled Children Handbook (2nd and 3rd editions). She regularly provides training to organisations as well as individuals, promoting awareness of legal rights and duties, and has been asked to give oral evidence to a number of parliamentary groups and inquiries.
Polly is one of just four lawyers ranked in Band 1 by Chambers and Partners for Education: Individuals (UK-Wide).
