Louise Turner

Job Title: Senior Consultant CILEX Lawyer

Louise specialises in education law alongside all aspects of criminal defence work, especially protecting clients against false allegations. 

In the area of criminal law, Louise is an expert in protecting her clients against false allegations. She understands the impact that false allegations of all kinds can have on her clients, and approaches cases in a highly proactive way with high importance placed on early engagement to resolve cases. 

In the area of education law, Louise has expertise in School Admission Appeals, having completed training as Clerk to the School Admissions Appeal Panel within a local authority. She can assist in relation to School Exclusion appeals, Safeguarding, special education needs (including Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP), and complaints, including applications to amend pupil data held by an education setting. 

Louise is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives as well as a CILEX Litigator and Advocate in Criminal Proceedings, meaning that she acts in her own right on behalf of clients in criminal proceedings. She has also recently been awarded the prestigious honorary title of CILEX Companion.  

She has many years of experience as a court advocate in criminal proceedings, having gained her Magistrates Court qualification, and was admitted to the Law Society Criminal Litigation Scheme in 2013. Louise has also been an accredited Police Station representative for over 19 years.  

Louise’s particular areas of specialism include: 

Criminal law: 

• Defending clients accused of false allegations in criminal investigations and court proceedings. For more information, please read Louise's blog: Unmasking the Truth: Understanding and Addressing False Allegations 
• Investigatory work 
• Instruction of experts 
• Written representations/legal submissions to the Crown Prosecution Service in Criminal matters to achieve no further action 
• Arrest Record Deletion Applications and Appeals 
• Reputation management and safeguarding clients against criminal allegations 
• Defending clients in Road Traffic matters, with particular experience in gathering and preparing mitigation and mounting legal arguments, including Special Reasons and Exceptional Hardship
• Criminal regulatory work 

Education Law: 

• School Admission Appeals - for more information, please read Louise's blog: The School Admission Appeals Process and FAQs
• Complaints to Schools 
• Safeguarding 
• Applications to amend data held on School Education Records  
• School Attendance cases - for more information, please read Louise's blog: Being prosecuted for failing to send your child to school is not a walk in the playground! 

Over her years of experience, Louise has represented wrongly accused clients in serious and complex criminal matters of all kinds, including murder, manslaughter, fraud, and serious sexual assault. Louise also has experience representing clients in taxi licensing appeals, prosecutions by environmental health and trading standards, and complaints made against members regulated by the Football Association (FA) and medical profession (GMC). She places emphasis on acting quickly to mitigate the impact that being falsely accused of a crime can have. 

Experienced in representing clients from professional backgrounds, Louise is good at seeing the big picture for a client. She ensures that her representation not only considers the case in hand; Louise is particularly expert at considering the overall impact a case may have in relation to a client’s professional reputation, status, and ability to practice. 

Used to working with the very best and most astute Barristers and King's Counsel in the country, Louise is especially talented in listening to her clients, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a case, and ensuring the best outcome is achieved.  

News and success stories 

Louise has achieved many recent successes for her clients. 

She has worked with numerous families to secure the successful withdrawal of prosecution against them for Failure to Secure Regular Attendance of Child at School. 

Louise has also worked with a number of clients facing prosecution for driving offences, resulting in these clients being able to keep their driving licences. 

Finally, Louise has worked with clients facing false accusations for a number of crimes ranging from theft to serious assaults. Louise has managed to secure no further action for these clients, allowing them to move on with their lives after the stress of being wrongly accused. Louise has also worked with clients all the way to trial, instructing highly regarded Counsel in the process. 

Louise is happy to offer prospective clients a free of charge 15 minute telephone call to understand their case so clients may make an informed decision before instruction. 

Other Activities 

Over recent years, Louise has taken an active role in the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, working to increase diversity within the judiciary. This work has included working on high-level committees including members of the judiciary and officials from the Judicial Office, Judicial Appointments Commission, the Law Society, and the Bar Council as well as their regulators including the Bar Standards Board, Legal Services Board, and CILEX Regulation.  

Louise is also a CILEX Specialist Criminal Reference Group Advisor, helping to provide insights regarding sector and practice-specific issues as well as wider reflections on her experience as a CILEX professional.  

In addition, she volunteers for the The CILEX Foundation, a charity which exists to help address issues faced by those from underrepresented groups and to broaden access to legal careers by removing some of the barriers to legal education and career progression. 

Locally, Louise has founded a group with other professional women called Chichester Corporate Ladies Club which raises valuable funds for Dementia Support and their day centre, Sage House in Tangmere, West Sussex, which provides respite for those living with Dementia and their families. 

Click here to watch Louise featured on Setfords' YouTube channel. 

Outside of work, Louise is a mother of two young boys who keep her busy.  

Testimonials  

"Mrs Turner was friendly, kind and knowledgeable. She helped me, and sorted out my problems very quickly and I would highly recommend her." 

"Thank you for all the good night’s sleep you brought back to me and my wife. For the peace and tranquillity of having you on our team. You have brought back time I might not have had with my family and been able to see my children grow. The impact you have had on my life and its future course is one I will always be truly thankful for." 

"I received fantastic support from Louise Turner at Setfords - helping guide me through an unusual and worrying situation. She was extremely understanding, responsive and reassuring and helped me get to a happy outcome. Very grateful for her support, and would recommend her for advice." 

"I was professionally assisted by Louise Turner who in my opinion is worth her weight in gold or crypto in this day and age. With her advice and guidance she gave me pragmatic and cost effective advice in order to provide me with a level of legal protection without breaking the bank. I can highly recommend Louise Turner." 

"Louise gave me some great advice in a school appeal. Without the advice and knowledge that Louise gave me I think I would of struggled to win the appeal. I am truly grateful for this and would highly recommend Louise and the team, I cannot thank Louise enough." 

"Louise was very detailed and efficient in putting together the work." 

"Louise's expert advice, guidance and support led to a very positive outcome for our matter. She communicated with us every step of the way. Throughout the process we felt that Louise genuinely had our best interests at heart. Would highly recommend." 

"We spoke to Louise regarding an appeal for a school application which was rejected. She provided some excellent insight into what we needed to do to write a strong appeal. Based on the advice given we were successful in our appeal for the school place." 

"What has happened has been truly life changing and I thank you very much for all your help, efforts and kindness towards me.....it has helped the situation hugely." 

"I have been through a gruelling legal process that lasted over three years from start to finish and had a serious impact on my well-being. Because of this, I suffered from extreme stress, which I am sure meant I wasn't the easiest client Louise has ever dealt with. However, she was supportive and professional throughout my case and I never once felt that she was judgemental. I would highly recommend her if you want a professional and supportive solicitor who will do everything in her power to give you the best possible outcome in your case." 

"Having never used or needed a solicitor before when we found ourselves in the unfortunate position of requiring one we had no idea where to start. Louise's expert advice, guidance and support led to a very positive outcome for our matter. She communicated with us every step of the way. Throughout the process we felt that Louise genuinely had our best interests at heart. Would highly recommend." 

"Louise Turner provided an exceptional service throughout my case. She kept me regularly updated and was happy to offer further support a year after my initial involvement to support me in receiving compensation.” 

"Been fighting against the local authority to move my son who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy from a mainstream school into a special needs school that can cater for his requirements without any problems, spoke with Louise who was more than happy to help with the paperwork and explain things in non legal terms which helped a lot when it needed to be explained to my son. Louise was not only extremely professional but she also cared and got to know myself and the family, Louise got to know what drives my son and why he wanted to change schools and how he felt it would be better for him. With the help Louise gave we didn't even have to go to court and now my son has got the school he wants. I can't thank her enough, absolutely brilliant and I would highly recommend to anyone who needs help." 

"Very good advice and prompt with no delays. The quality of the work was excellent." 

"Firstly can I say a huge thank you for all you have done for us. I really appreciate it. You don't know what a difference you have made to our family." 

"I was represented by Louise from Setfords after making contact via a Google search. Right from the outset she provided a very professional and reassuring service. Louise showed empathy for my situation, without judgement and put me at ease from the very first conversation. Claire, another solicitor acting as Louise’s agent did a fantastic job when accompanying me at my interview and also shared the same caring and professional mindset as Louise. Louise was very informative of the process as I didn’t know what to expect and kept me updated throughout, with plenty of contact. I am very pleased with the outcome and would definitely recommend Setfords to anyone looking for legal representation!" 

Email: louiseturner@setfords.co.uk

Practices: Regulatory Law, Arrest Record Deletion, Criminal Law, Education Law