At Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP, our breadth of public law, commercial and claimant expertise enables us to offer a seamless public law service to institutional, commercial and individual clients. Whether you are a public authority, an association, charity, commercial enterprise or an individual, our lawyers offer comprehensive advice and representation.
What is Public Law?
Public law is the body of law which relates to decisions made by public authorities, such as the government, local authorities and any other body which carries out a public function.
Judicial review is the legal procedure which enables individuals to challenge the decisions of public authorities once other complaints procedures have been exhausted. Judicial review claims are brought on grounds that a particular decision has been made unlawfully, irregularly, or unfairly. For example, Claimants assert that the decision maker may have applied the incorrect procedure or taken account of some irrelevant or incorrect information when arriving at a final decision.
Claims may also be brought in circumstances where individuals believe a public authority has violated their human rights under the Human Rights Act 1998.
Unlawful or irrational decisions by public authorities can cause great injustice for individuals who may be denied access to statutory services, such as respite care. They can also lead to the loss of a person’s right to seek employment in the care or education sectors, or may prevent them from operating their businesses.
‘FJG lawyers act for Claimants and Defendant Parties. We believe this enhances the quality of our services. We can advise tactically on your case from each side’s perspective.’
Public law covers a vast range of public authority activity. By way of example, our recent case work includes:
- Access to statutory services including services for the disabled, the elderly and ‘Looked-After’ children, or ‘Children in Need’.
- Professional regulation, including appeals to the Care Standards Tribunal against decisions to list individuals on the Protection of Children Act List (PoCA); List 99; or the Protection of Vulnerable Adults List (PoVA).
- Business regulation, including decisions by Ofsted, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and local authorities etc.
- Powers and decisions of the Inland Revenue, Secretary of State for the Home Department (Immigration and Nationality issues), Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (welfare benefits issues) and the local Government Ombudsman’s power to investigate.
Parties must act quickly!
Judicial review claims must be brought as soon as possible, and within three months of any unfavourable decision. Claimants therefore require urgent advice on their claims, whilst Defendants should seek early advice on dispute resolution as a means of avoiding judicial review proceedings.
Public funding - ‘Legal Aid’
Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP is one of the few firms of solicitors in England and Wales to hold a public law contract with the Legal Services Commission. Legal Aid may be available to fund judicial review proceedings, dependent on income and merits of a claim.
In the first instance, contact Fisher Jones Greenwood’s public law solicitors:
Louise Boyes on 01206 835273
Yvonne Spencer on 01206 835241
Tony Fisher on 01206 835232