Human Rights Solicitors

The Human Rights Act of 1998 sets out fundamental rights and freedoms that everyone in the UK is entitled to. Public bodies such as the police, councils, schools and local authorities all have a duty to make sure these rights are protected.

Human rights underpin every aspect of our lives, but some of the key principles involve:

The right to life
The right to a private life
Freedom from discrimination or harassment
Access to healthcare and medication

If you believe you have suffered an infringement of these rights, we could help you make a claim. Our expert solicitors have extensive experience challenging human rights abuses in many areas, including:

We have offices across the country and can help you apply for any legal aid that is available. We offer a free initial consultation and our team is ranked in the leading legal directories.

Infringement of your human rights can take on many forms and you need a legal team that understands the nuances of these cases across different areas of law. Our Public Law experts have the expertise you need to build a strong case and will fight to get you the justice you deserve.

Call the team today on 0800 028 1943 or fill out our online enquiry form and we'll call you back.

Experience in many high profile cases

Free initial consultation

Legal aid available in certain cases

Offices around the country

Call one of our team free on

0370 1500 100

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Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm (excluding Public Holidays).

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Yogi Amin Partner Meet The Team

Human Rights - More Information

I feel like I've taken on the world and beaten it, not just for me but for everyone else.”

Mrs R, Client

Trial Collapses After Police Lose Evidence

"Losing this vital evidence was an inexcusable error. It amounted to a breach of our client’s human rights as well as a breach of the state’s duty to effectively investigate when a credible allegation of rape is made." - Fiona McGhie, Senior Associate

"Nothing can change my situation but I hope that improvements are made to protect video evidence by police forces across the country. I wouldn’t want any other victim or vulnerable witness to go through the same horrific ordeal as me.” - Client

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Human Rights Act?

The Human Rights Act 1998 defends the basic rights of individuals, irrespective of age, gender, ethnicity and income. If you believe these rights have been breached, it allows you to have your case heard in a UK court rather than having to go to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

The full range of rights protected by the Act is extensive, but some of the main articles we deal with most often in cases of human rights abuses include:

Article 2 - Right to life
Article 3 - Freedom from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment
Article 5 - Right to liberty
Article 6 - Right to a fair trial
Article 8 - Right to family and private life
Article 14 - Freedom from discrimination

Public bodies and organisations have a responsibility to make sure your human rights are protected at all times. Such organisations might include:

The government
The police
Schools and hospitals
Councils and local authorities

All these authorities may have an impact on our lives across a range of areas. The Human Rights Act is there to ensure that fundamental rights are upheld no matter what the circumstances. We should expect to be treated fairly, to have access to the healthcare and education we need, and have faith in the justice system.

Our Human Rights solicitors understand the many different ways any infringement on these rights may affect people and their loved ones. We have extensive experience helping those who have been let down by the authorities get the justice they deserve.

Call us today for a free consultation on 0800 028 1943 - or fill out our online enquiry form and we'll call you back.

What Counts As An Abuse Of Human Rights?

The wide range of areas covered by the Human Rights Act means that abuses of these rights can take many forms. A violation of your human rights might involve:

Mistreatment or false imprisonment by the police
Inadequate health or social care
Deprivation of liberty
Death or serious injury while in state care
Discrimination or harassment
Denial of healthcare/medication for financial reasons
Unlawful disclosure of your personal information (under Article 3 of the Data Protection Act)

Anyone could have their human rights breached, but some are more vulnerable than others, such as:

Children with special educational needs (SEN)
People in police custody or other state detention
People with complex care needs

Legal reforms and funding cuts within the social sector can mean vital services are withdrawn for those who need them most. Our team has helped many families challenge local authority decisions to make sure vulnerable children and adults have access to the education, care and support they are entitled to.

If you believe you have suffered an infringement of your human rights, our expert team can advise you on next steps. Call today for a free consultation on 0800 028 1943 - or fill out our online enquiry form and we'll call you back.

Why Choose Irwin Mitchell?

We have acted in many high profile cases challenging human rights abuses by the state and other authority bodies including the police, healthcare trusts, and local authorities.

Some of our high profile cases include:

Bringing a claim against Avon and Somerset Constabulary, who caused a victim's rape case to collapse when they lost crucial video testimonial
Representing the family of Lloyd Butler who died in police custody
Representing the family of Abbi McAllister, who committed suicide after absconding from detention
Investigating the involvement of a mental health trust and detention in police custody in the death of Logan Peters, who died shortly after being released

We regularly bring claims for breach of Article 2 (Right to Life) where people have died whilst in police custody or in the care of mental health hospitals, or shortly after release. We work closely with the charity INQUEST to help families find out what has happened to their loved ones who have died in prison or state detention. For more information and case studies please see our page on Inquests.

We have also helped many people and their families get the vital access to the education and healthcare they need when support services have been withdrawn because of budget cuts. Find out more on our Health and Social Care page.

Our lawyers are passionate about achieving justice. We believe in a fair society and have successfully taken cases all the way to the Supreme Court, European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.

Our expert team includes Fiona McGhie, who worked with Cerebra to update their guidelines on the arrest and detention of disabled children, and Yogi Amin, who was recently named Social and Welfare Lawyer of the Year at the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards.

Whatever your situation, we have the expertise and dedication to help you. Contact the team today on 0800 028 1943 - or fill out our online enquiry form and we'll call you back.

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