Select an area of expertise to find out more about our experience.
Find out more about our barristers and business support teams here.
Select an area of expertise to find out more about our experience.
Find out more about our barristers and business support teams here.
Alastair Hodge was called to the Bar in 1997, as a Barrister of the Inner Temple and was elected a Master of the Bench in 2014.
He has been a tenant at 5 Essex Chambers since 2003 and specialises in all aspects of Employment Law & Education Law.
In his Employment Law work, he acts for both Claimants and Respondents and has particular interest in transfer of undertakings cases and discrimination cases.
In his Education Law work, he acts for parents, children, teachers and Local Authorities. He has a particular niche specialism in defending teachers in regulatory proceedings at the Teaching Regulation Agency.
He was appointed Honorary Professor of Advocacy at Nottingham Law School in 2016 and teaches oral and written advocacy at all levels, both nationally and internationally.
Clients & solicitors consider Alastair to be “extremely approachable”, “a demonic cross examiner” and “great fun to work with”.
Alastair has extensive experience in the following areas of Employment Law:
All protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, Contracts of Employment, Collective Agreements, Directors’ Duties, Equal Pay, Flexible Working, Health and Safety at Work, Insolvency, Maternity Rights, Part-Time Workers, Pay, Pensions & Benefits, Redundancy, Service Lettings, Strikes & Industrial Action, Temporary Employees, Termination of Employment, Trade Unions, Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE), Unfair Dismissal, Working Time, Wrongful Dismissal.
Alastair is also frequently instructed to appear in the Jersey Employment Tribunal and is fully conversant with the Labour Laws of the Cayman Islands.
Acting for a Respondent in a 4 day transfer of undertakings case, involving off shore issues relating to Guernsey & Cayman Islands.
Acting for a Police Force in a 12 day disability discrimination case.
Acting for a Local Authority in a 7 day unfair dismissal, sex discrimination and disability discrimination case.
Acting for a Claimant in a complex equal pay claim within the private banking sector.
Acting for a Local Authority in a 5 day unfair dismissal case, relating to a major public sector reorganisation programme.
Alastair has extensive experience in the following areas of Education Law:
Governing Bodies, Duties of Care, Safety & Supervision, Curriculum, Employment & Training, Finance, Inspections, Special Educational Needs, Admissions, Exclusions, Discipline, TRA Regulatory Matters.
Acting for a School in a 2 day disability discrimination case.
Acting for a Local Authority in a 3 day EHC Plan appeal.
Advising a Local Authority on the reorganisation of its Special Educational Needs provision.
Acting for a School at an Exclusion Independent Review Panel.
Acting for a Headteacher in a 5 day TRA prosection involving 27 allegations of misconduct.
Since 2005 Alastair has developed a number of advocacy training programmes for students & practitioners at all levels, both nationally and internationally.
In 2016 he was appointed Honorary Professor of Advocacy at Nottingham Law School. He now has the reputation of being one of the most sought-after advocacy trainers in the world.
In addition to the United Kingdom, he has vast experience of teaching advocacy in the following jurisdictions:
Alastair also regularly lectures and teaches all aspects Employment Law & Education Law.
Recent feedback from lectures & seminars:
“Achieved something no other speaker has in over 10 years of attending training; to keep me engaged throughout the whole day. Just superb!”
“Amazing day! Entertaining, funny and informative.”
“Mr Hodge is the best speaker I have ever heard.”
“Engaging, passionate and compelling. A total tour de force. Alastair is Billy Connolly, Dave Allen and Rory Bremner all rolled into one.”
“The best seminar I have ever been to…EVER!”
“Mad as a box of frogs, but knowledgeable, engaging and entertaining.”
“Madly entertaining and entertainingly mad! One of the best days of my life, which I will never forget. God has mercy; Mr Hodge does not.”
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Instructing Alastair
Please contact James Cole if you have any questions or wish to instruct us.
Alastair’s recent appointments include:
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