Band 3
Spotlight
About
Provided by Alia Lewis
Practice Areas
Alia is a Director and an award-winning Child Care Law Solicitor with a deep commitment to advocating for the rights of autistic children, parents, and individuals with neurodivergent conditions and hidden disabilities within the family justice system. She has spearheaded the establishment of a specialist Autism and ADHD team within Duncan Lewis’ Child Care department, focusing on providing tailored legal representation to these often-overlooked communities.
Her expertise spans all areas of family law involving children, with a particular focus on public law (care) cases where social services are involved, as well as cases relating to deprivation of liberty and secure accommodation. Alia represents children of all ages and is highly experienced in working with neurodivergent, non-verbal, and pre-verbal children, conducting visits that are sensitive to their needs.
Alia’s personal experience as the mother of an autistic child has given her valuable insight into the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals. She is proficient in using PECS, communication boards, visual timetables, social stories, and basic Makaton to facilitate communication with non-verbal children. Her understanding of sensory processing allows her to adjust her practice to minimise stress during visits, ensuring a supportive and accessible environment for both the child and their family.
Alia holds a Level 2 qualification in Understanding Autism, further enhancing her expertise. Her overarching goal is to provide high-quality representation and access to justice for neurodivergent children and their families, while driving systemic reform within the family justice system. Alia is an active advocate for compulsory training, best practice guidance, and meaningful change for professionals working with neurodivergent individuals.
As a co-founder of Family Law Advice for the Neurodivergent Community (FLANC), Alia continues to push for reform and greater understanding in this area. In recognition of her efforts, she was honored with the 2023 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Award for Children's Rights.
Professional Memberships
Member of the Law Society's Children Law Accreditation Scheme
Member of Association of Lawyers for Children
NAGALRO
Understanding Autism Level 2
Co-founder of Family Law Advice for the Neurodivergent Community (FLANC)
Awards
Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year for Children's Rights
Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards
2023
Chambers Review
UK
Alia Lewis is adept at advising on public care proceedings and has a particular focus on cases concerning neurodivergent children. She runs the firm's specialist neurodiversity unit within its child care team.
Family and children lawyer Alia Lewis has a lifelong focus on children with special needs, particularly autism. She works to enhance inclusivity and access to justice for neurodiverse children and families within the family justice system.Among her achievements is the creation of Duncan Lewis’ specialist Autism and ADHD Unit. It advocates for the rights of neurodivergent clients and their families within public and private children law proceedings.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Alia is very thorough and efficient, with particular awareness around special needs cases."
"Alia is a gifted and tenacious lawyer who has a real speciality in representing parents and children who are neurodiverse. She is alive to all their challenges and is a tireless fighter for them."
"Alia is a fantastic lawyer who is incredibly well prepared on cases."
"A gifted and tenacious lawyer who has built a speciality in neurodiverse children who are going through the justice system. Alia is alive to their challenges and is a tireless fighter for justice."
"She is breaking boundaries for representing children in care proceedings, especially those with severe disabilities. Alia is doing ground-breaking work."
"Clever, hard-working and very committed to this work. She does wider work that shows her dedication to this field. She especially works with neurodivergent clients."
"She is very detailed and can really help newer guardians with their learning. She has particular awareness around special needs cases."
"She also had a specialism in representing children in cases where there are issues relating to neurodivergence. She goes the extra mile in every case and is committed to her client."
"Alia is very thorough and efficient, with particular awareness around special needs cases."
"Alia is a gifted and tenacious lawyer who has a real speciality in representing parents and children who are neurodiverse. She is alive to all their challenges and is a tireless fighter for them."
"Alia is a fantastic lawyer who is incredibly well prepared on cases."
"A gifted and tenacious lawyer who has built a speciality in neurodiverse children who are going through the justice system. Alia is alive to their challenges and is a tireless fighter for justice."
"She is breaking boundaries for representing children in care proceedings, especially those with severe disabilities. Alia is doing ground-breaking work."
"Clever, hard-working and very committed to this work. She does wider work that shows her dedication to this field. She especially works with neurodivergent clients."
"She is very detailed and can really help newer guardians with their learning. She has particular awareness around special needs cases."
"She also had a specialism in representing children in cases where there are issues relating to neurodivergence. She goes the extra mile in every case and is committed to her client."
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