Judicial Review Solicitors

Public bodies are trusted to make a wide range of decisions that can have serious impacts on our lives and they must act within the law. We can help if you have been affected by a public body abusing its power or acting unlawfully.

Our specialist judicial review solicitors help people challenge and overturn a decision where the public authority has failed to comply with its legal obligations. We regularly act for individuals, companies, charities and community interest groups.

We regularly act in judicial review cases in areas such as:

The judicial review process is long and complicated. It is important to organise legal representation as soon as possible to give your claim the best chance within the tight time constraints set by the court.

Our Public Law & Human Rights team are recognised as leaders in the field of judicial review. Our cases have pushed the boundaries of the legal system, resulting in changes to the law and providing better protection for citizens across the country.

If you have been affected by an unlawful public body decision, we may be able to help you challenge its decision. Contact our team online or call us on 0800 028 1943 to find out more.

Leading lawyers in the field of judicial review

Experience with complex, high profile Supreme Court cases

Legal aid and No Win No Fee agreements available in some cases

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Judicial Review - 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

Disabled Couple Successfully Challenge Council's Benefits Policy

“The ruling given is an important step forward that recognises how the existing council policy simply failed to consider how disabled people would be adversely affected by the treatment of the care component of DLA as income.” - Fiona McGhie, Senior Associate

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Judicial Review Process?

Judicial review can be quite a complicated and lengthy process that takes several months in total even though the final hearing can be over in a matter of hours:

First you must write a Pre-Action Protocol (PAP) letter to the public body you want to challenge, setting out your claim and what you want as a resolution. A response is normally expected within two weeks.
If the public body is unwilling to change its decision, you can apply for permission to make a judicial review claim. At this point the court will decide whether or not you have an arguable case to make based on evidence provided by both sides. This step does not apply in statutory appeal cases.
If permission is denied, you can request an oral hearing to reconsider your application. If permission is denied again, you can appeal to the Court of Appeal for the decision to be reconsidered again.
If permission is granted at either of these stages, the case then moves to the substantive hearing.
Both parties submit more detailed documents supporting their positions.
A few weeks before the date of the hearing both parties submit skeleton arguments summarising their cases
The hearing itself takes place and the judge considers the evidence and arguments provided by the claimant and the public body.
The judge submits a written decision detailing his or her fully reasoned decision and any orders resulting from it.
Either the claimant or the public body can appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal within 14 days.

What Outcome Can I Expect From A Judicial Review Claim?

There are four many remedies that the Court can order if a judicial review claim is successful:

Quashing order: overturns the decision, obliging the public body to take the decision again
Prohibitory order: prohibits the public body from make the unlawful decision again in the future
Mandatory order: orders the public body to do something it had a duty to do
Declaration: declares how a particular law should be interpreted

There are also rare cases – such as those involving human rights violations – in which the Court awards compensation to the claimant.

It is important to note that the judge has the discretion to award no remedy at all if they rule that the claimant has been unreasonable or if their application was not prompt enough. To find out how we can help ensure your judicial review claim gets the outcome you want, call us on 0800 028 1943 and speak to one of our experts.

Who Can Make a Judicial Review Claim?

Anyone can make a judicial review claim, including:

Individuals
Businesses
Campaign groups
Charities
NGOs

It doesn’t matter how many have been affected by the decision or how many might benefit from it being overturned. You can make a claim even if you are the only person affected.

You or your organisation can also claim on behalf of someone else even if you haven’t been affected yourself. This is particularly relevant for decisions affecting children and adults without the mental capacity to make a claim themselves.

It is important for organisations making judicial review claims to be able to present at least one person that has a genuine interest in the case. You can’t challenge a decision just because it’s unlawful – you have to show that it has actually affected someone.

You should only make a judicial review claim as a last resort. Claimants who have failed to explore alternatives such as mediation, complaints procedures or appeals are likely to have their claims dismissed.

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Judicial Review Solicitors

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Judicial Review - More Information

Whose Decisions Can I Challenge At Judicial Review?

What Counts As An Unlawful Decision?

Are There Any Time Limits For Appealing To Judicial Review?

What Costs Are Involved? Is There Any Funding Available?

Meet The Team

Disabled Couple Successfully Challenge Council's Benefits Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Judicial Review Process?

What Outcome Can I Expect From A Judicial Review Claim?

Who Can Make a Judicial Review Claim?

Related Information – Judicial Review