Public Law and Human Rights

Anyone who has had their rights infringed or has been treated unfairly by a public body can make a claim. You can also claim on behalf of people who are unable to make decisions for themselves, such as adults with certain mental illnesses or brain injuries, or children.

Charities, campaign groups and local interest groups may also make claims on behalf of individuals or groups of people that have been affected by a public body decision.

Most areas of public law require you to go through complaints and appeals procedures before you can take legal action in a court – but we can advise, support and represent you at any stage of the process. You don't need to be ready to go to court to take advantage of our in-depth knowledge and negotiation skills.

Judicial review is a way to challenge public bodies if you think they have made a decision that is unfair, unlawful or irrational. You can only apply for judicial review once you have exhausted all other options through complaining and using any relevant appeals procedure.

If your claim is successful, a judge can force an organisation to make its decision again, prohibit the organisation from doing certain things or force it to comply with its legal duties. In some cases they even award you compensation.

Our public law solicitors have a great deal of experience with taking cases to judicial review and can give your claim the best possible chance of success.

Every child deserves the support they need to receive, and education authorities have a responsibility to provide it. Our SEN lawyers can help with:

• Having your child's special educational needs assessed
• Transport to and from school
• Statutory funding for independent school placements
• Accessing support in schools and colleges
• Organising home education
• Challenging discrimination

Our dedicated team of specialist education law solicitors will help you voice concerns you may have about your child's education and negotiate solutions with schools, colleges and local authorities. If necessary, we can raise your dispute at a Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal or appeal to judicial review.

The Human Rights Act covers a broad range of issues, so breaches can occur in many different situations. 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 or medication for financial reasons
• Unlawful disclosure of your personal information

Anyone could have their human rights breached, but some people 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’re entitled to.