Gills to campaign for student rights

THE CAMPAIGNING solicitor Jaswinder Gill has set up a specialist practice to fight cases on behalf of students who fall foul of education authorities.

He left JR Jones in Ealing, west London, to set up Gills with his brother Harjinder in nearby Southall.

Gill has made a name for himself bringing actions for students who want to challenge decisions made by schools, colleges and councils.

In one of the firm's first successes, he won permission to seek a judicial review of a decision by South Bank University, London, to disqualify a law project for plagiarism. The decision led to the woman's degree falling short of that required for her to get a place on a legal practice course.

Gill says that the case highlights a trend towards students realising that they can fight decisions which adversely affect their careers.

"There is a growing demand for this service caused by an awareness of students' rights. More students are questioning the authorities."

The Gills plan to take on support staff and another solicitor. Much of their work will come by word of mouth and by referrals from other bodies working in the field.

Jaswinder, who will be senior partner in the new firm, says: "We will have to do the bread and butter stuff as well, but we want to concentrate on the education cases."