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:
Following Lord Faulks’ evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights on 16 June, PLP Director Jo Hickman has said that the Government’s current approach is making it harder for the public to engage with its plans for constitutional reform. Jo Hickman, Director of the Public Law Project said: “In the light of Lord Faulks’…
Public Law Project has submitted its response to the consultation, Judicial Review: Proposals for Reform. Read Public Law Project’s consultation response here. Our introduction to the consultation reminds policy-makers that judicial review exists to ensure fair and lawful public administration and promote high quality public decision-making. It ensures that the executive obeys the laws enacted by…
6 July 2021 – 8 July 2021 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm – Public Law Project’s discrimination law conference is back with three days of seminars from 6 to 8 of July. It’s presented in accessible morning and afternoon bite sized chunks, all on Zoom with Speech to Text Reporting (STTR) throughout. The event will also be available to delegates post-conference in PLP’s learning portal. £10 + VAT […]…
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