Lacie Smith

Lacie Smith is a Senior Paralegal in Boyes Turner’s Special Educational Needs team, supporting children, young people and their families across all stages of the special educational needs process. She assists with matters ranging from requests for Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessments through to appeals before the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal, helping families secure the educational support their children need. Lacie is committed to helping families navigate the complex legal frameworks to secure tailored educational support that empowers children and transforms lives. Taking a pragmatic approach, she works passionately to deliver practical outcomes that ensure every child receives the support necessary to thrive.

As a former licensed special education teacher, Lacie combines professional expertise with a deeply personal connection to SEN. Her experience teaching students with profound multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), specific learning disabilities (SLD), and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs gives her a unique perspective on the educational system and interventions. This is further enriched by her personal insights, as a sibling of someone with Down’s Syndrome and Autism and her experience being a stepmother to a child with emotional based school avoidance (EBSA). Her personal experience allows her to approach each case with exceptional empathy, understanding and resolve.

In her role at Boyes Turner, Lacie supports families through the entire SEN process. She works collaboratively with parents to ensure their child’s needs are accurately reflected in their EHCPs. Her background as a special education teacher gives her a deep understanding of how classroom-based interventions and expert recommendations translate into meaningful support within an EHCP. This allows her to draft detailed and effective EHCPs, interpret independent expert reports, and help families accurately identify the most suitable educational settings for their child.

Lacie is motivated by the transformative impact of securing the right educational support for children and young people with SEN. She understands the challenges families face and is passionate about guiding them through complex legal processes with clarity and compassion. She takes pride in providing clear, practical advice and offering strategic solutions.

Lacie is skilled at navigating cases involving mainstream, specialist and independent school placements. She also provides valuable assistance to parents exploring education otherwise than at school (EOTAS). Her diligent approach ensures every EHCP she drafts addresses each child’s specific needs in a fully tailored manner.

Lacie has a special interest in cases concerning children and young people with Down’s Syndrome, Autism, and EBSA, with a strong emphasis on ensuring children and young people with complex needs are supported and able to flourish in their educational environments. Her personal connection to SEN ensures families feel heard, supported and represented.