Improving access to judicial review is a core focus for the Public Law Project.
Judicial review is a legal process that allows individuals and communities to stop public authorities from acting unfairly or unlawfully. It can be used, for example, to challenge the improper closure of schools or hospitals, to release someone from unlawful detention, or to ensure that people are not denied access to benefits to which they are entitled.
Judicial review is a fundamental part of the public law system in the UK and an essential constitutional check against executive power. It is therefore particularly important for poor and marginalised groups. Unfortunately, under the current system, financial barriers and restrictions to legal aid mean that for many people it is out of reach.
PLP is tackling three main challenges. They are to:
Scroll down to read more about our work and the support we provide.
Today the Government published the 200 page report of the Independent Review of Administrative Law (IRAL) and at the same time launched a consultation on the reform of judicial review. Public Law Project is analysing the report in detail and looking at how we can support others who wish to respond to the consultation. Jo Hickman, Director of…
You can now read PLP’s submission to the Independent Human Rights Act Review.…
PLP is presenting two workshops to help practitioners and other interested parties respond to the Judicial Review Reform consultation
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PLP regularly represents individuals and charities in cases to help them to challenge unfair systems, enforce their rights, and to improve access to judicial review.
If you are a charity or NGO and you would like to speak with one of our caseworkers, please get in touch: s.harper@publiclawproject.org.uk
PLP helps to inform on-going policy discussions on judicial review by sharing and disseminating research and insight about how the system works and the barriers people face in accessing public law remedies.
We also publish resources on how public law and strategic litigation can be used to challenge unfair systems and to clarify the law in the wider public interest.
We regularly produce consultation responses and briefings for Parliamentarians.
Read our research and briefings on Judicial Review here.
If you work in Government, academia, policy or research, or if you want to know more about our research and policy work in judicial review, please get in touch: research@publiclawproject.org.uk
PLP works with a wide range of charity and civil society groups to identify and pursue public law issues affecting their beneficiary groups. We work with NGOs, campaigners and academics to understand how and when strategic litigation can be used most effectively.
Each year hundreds of lawyers from charities, private practice and NGOs, as well as advisers and public authority decision-makers, attend PLP’s flagship How to do Judicial Review training. PLP also produces regular training programmes on specific aspects of judicial review, such as on how to navigate costs and financial barriers. Additionally, we deliver bespoke training packages for charities and advisers as well as guides on judicial review for members of the public.
To get in touch with a member of our training team please email events@publiclawproject.org.uk