Alia Lewis

I initially joined TVE in 2002 as a paralegal. I then went on to train, qualify and achieve children law accreditation before leaving in 2012 to start a family.

I am children accredited and specialise in very complex public and private law (16.4) cases. I represent children and adults and undertake the majority of my own advocacy. My cases involve a wide array of issues including fabricated or induced illness (FII), non-accidental injury, substance misuse and mental health.

As a result of being a parent to an autistic son I specialise in representing and protecting the rights of neurodivergent and vulnerable parties, which is something I am deeply passionate about. My personal experience has led to a heightened awareness of neurodivergent traits, which assists me to recognise cases where neurodivergence has been missed or misunderstood, and where this has led to discriminatory practises and the formation of inaccurate narratives, which I work hard to unpick. I am acutely aware of the trauma that many neurodivergent children and families have experienced and am adept at providing emotionally intelligent representation to my clients and implementing reasonable adjustments where required.

Being a parent to an autistic child and understanding the prevalence of neurodivergence within society has profoundly impacted the way in which I practise as a solicitor. In 2023 I established an Autism and ADHD family law team to provide a highly bespoke and informed service to neurodivergent clients, which was the first team of its kind in the UK. I ensure I understand my clients communication, sensory and other needs (through the use of “All About Me” documents) and place great importance on building a working relationship based on trust, creating a ‘safe space’ for my clients. I am accustomed to using PECS (picture exchange communication cards) and basic Makaton.

In 2024 I co-founded FLANC (Family Law Advice for the Neurodivergent Community), which is a unique, cross-firm working group, whose aim is to make family justice, child protection and non-court dispute resolution fair and accessible for neurodivergent individuals, through mandatory training, best practice guidance and systemic change. In our first year we contributed to the Family Justice Council’s best practice guidance on neurodiversity for practitioners, launched the use of “All About Me” documents and have produced a neuro-inclusive mediation toolkit.

I am regularly invited to speak at high profile conferences nationwide to raise awareness of FLANC’s work and deliver training. Consequently, I have developed excellent working relationships with a wide range of key professionals across the UK, including within Cafcass, the judiciary and independent expert witnesses, which is essential to achieve improvement across the child protection and family justice system in terms of how we manage cases involving neurodivergence.

Area of specialism

• Care proceedings
• Deprivation of liberty
• Secure accommodation
• Special guardianship
• Private children disputes

Panel Memberships

• Law Society Children Law Accreditation

Associations

• Director and co-founder of FLANC (Family Law Advice for the Neurodivergent Community)

Mentions / Rankings

• Chambers ranked Diversity Equity and Inclusion Champion (I am one of only 21 lawyers in the UK across all areas of law with this ranking) – this is for lawyers who have gone above and beyond to make the world a fairer place.
• I am Chambers band 3 ranked for Family/Children Law
• Legal 500 next generation partner and recommended lawyer 6 years ranked

Awards

• Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2023 for Children’s Rights
• FLANC – Family Law Innovation of the year 2024 (Family Law Awards and highly commended in Community Interaction category)
• FLANC – Innovation Champion 2024 (Resolution awards)
• FLANC – Highly commended for innovation at Modern Law Awards March 2025

Notable / Reported Cases

• A Local Authority v M & Ors [2024] EWFC 243 (B) [first reported case of its kind –  highlighting systemic issues around neurodivergence, child protection and family justice]
• Prospective Adopters v London Borough of Ealing & Ors [2023] EWFC 294 (B)

Publications

• Academic Literature – Adam Feinstein (internationally recognised autism researcher) published my article in his book (June 2024) ‘Autism and the Law: Navigating a Legal Minefield’
• Articles in the Law Gazette and Legal Action Magazine
• I was interviewed on Tanya Bright’s podcast ‘Navigating our Neuroverse’ – Neurodivergence & Family Law: Navigating Legal Challenges with Alia Lewis (available on Spotify and YouTube)