Amara Ahmad

Amara is a Legal Director in our administrative and public law disputes team with a special interest in education and community care law. Amara often acts where the two areas of law overlap.

Amara advises on safeguarding and special educational needs. Amara has advised parents of children who have been excluded, are out of school or have special educational needs. Amara has experience of advocacy at the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Tribunal, at school admission appeals and at school exclusion appeals.

Amara advises schools, colleges, nurseries, in relation to their SEND policies, attendance policies and exclusion policies. Amara has assisted schools to prepare for Ofsted, providing a mock inspection service reviewing their single central register (SCR), admissions register and safeguarding policies and procedures. Amara regularly advises on school complaints, disciplinary matters, school exclusions, disability discrimination, consumer contracts, breach of contract, debt recovery, as well as rewriting policies and procedures to comply with statutory guidance and changes in the law.

Amara regularly attends conferences for schools and liaises directly with headteachers and bursars in the independent sector. In January 2024, Amara delivered training for the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools on the topic of safeguarding school trips.

In June 2022, Amara presented at the Autism Show in London on the topic of Education Health and Care Plans.  

Experience & education

2025 Legal Director, Birketts

2020 – 2025 Senior Associate, Doyle Clayton LLP

2014 – 2020 Head of Community Care and Education Law, GT Stewart Solicitors and Advocates

2010 – 2014 Joint Head of Public Services Law, Fisher Meredith

2011 – 2012 Deputy Head of Public Services Law, Ridley and Hall Solicitors

2005 – 2011 Trainee Solicitor and Solicitor at Ridley and Hall Solicitors