Public Law & Judicial Review
Specialist Judicial Review Lawyers
Our lawyers are highly experienced in challenging public bodies in a range of difference areas. Osbornes are able to draw on the breadth of work they cover across the other areas of law for which we have legal aid contracts. These include housing, community care and welfare benefits.
“They are tenacious, approachable, and extremely effective in representing the interests of their clients including in highly complex cases.”
“Osbornes Law has a well-regarded practice which sees the firm act in judicial review challenges against local and central government bodies.”
Expert lawyers specialising in public law
Public bodies must comply with rules when carrying out their public functions. Where they fail to comply with the rules this can be challenged by way of Judicial Review.
Examples of the type of cases our specialist public law solicitors can assist with include the following:
- Challenges to decisions concerning homelessness duties
- Challenges to Local Authorities’ housing allocation schemes
- Cases involving welfare benefits
- Failures by Children’s services involving children and young persons
- Cuts to public services
- Age assessment challenges
- Securing access to support for asylum seekers and migrants
- Challenges to the decision making of the Legal Aid Agency in relation to legal aid.
Our team also provide advice and training to charities and public sector organisations.
If you disagree with a decision, or you are concerned about the impact of a rule or policy of a public body, please contact the Public Law team at Osbornes to discuss whether it is something we can assist with.
Judicial Review FAQs
What is a public body?
A public body is an organisation carrying out a public function. Examples of public bodies include Local Authorities, government departments, and Housing Associations.
How will my public law case be funded?
Osbornes Law is able to conduct public law case work under our Public Law contract with the Legal Aid Agency. For those that do not qualify for legal aid we can discus other funding options.
If I win my public law case what order will the Court make?
The Court will not substitute its decision for that of the public body. The Courts roles is supervisory and to ensure that the law has been complied with. It can strike down unlawful acts but in almost all cases a successful Judicial Review claim will simply rule as unlawful the act that is complained of by the Claimant, thus requiring the public body to make a fresh decision.
Are there other organisations I can get help from
Below is a list of useful organisations who may be able to help:
- The Public Law Project https://publiclawproject.org.uk/
- Child Poverty Action Group https://cpag.org.uk/
- Shelter https://www.shelter.org.uk/
- The Equality and Human Rights Commission https://equalityhumanrights.com/en
- The Aire Centre https://www.airecentre.org/
Osbornes have a strong team with some truly excellent individuals.
Edward Taylor is an outstanding public law solicitor. He has particular skills in working with vulnerable clients and in complex and fast-moving cases.
They are tenacious, approachable, and extremely effective in representing the interests of their clients including in highly complex cases.
Osbornes Law are a truly excellent team. They cover a range of immigration, housing, and social care matters with a core commitment to representing vulnerable clients.
Osbornes has a particular strength in handling social housing challenges with a focus on homelessness and assisting children with disabilities.
William Ford has a forensic knowledge of housing law and is extremely intelligent, very thorough, and excellent with clients
Excellent communication at all stages of a claim and an emphasis on the needs of the client.
A thoroughly professional firm who have specialist knowledge of their areas of law.
Outstanding lawyers providing outstanding quality advice. They are one of the leaders in the field.
Alex McMahon is an extremely safe pair of hands for any housing issues.
William Ford has long been a leading individual in the housing law world.
Osbornes' social housing law team is very good and very well regarded within the field, with great solicitors across the full range of seniority.
The housing team at Osbornes is the best in England.
Alex McMahon is another notable team member who practices across housing law, public law, and community care.
Practice head William Ford is praised as ‘the best housing and social security lawyer in the sector.
A market leader across public law, international cases, financial and children work.
The team is particularly well regarded for its expertise in accommodation rights and asylum support. It also has dedicated expertise in social welfare matters.
Osbornes Law has a well-regarded practice which sees the firm act in judicial review challenges against local and central government bodies.
Osbornes are on top of the law and best practice surrounding age assessments of putative children; this filters through to their case preparation and client care at every stage
All of the team have strong expertise and are able to address enquiries quickly.
Osbornes are a fantastic team who really stand out in the market in the fields of housing and social care.
Excellent public law firm, strongly dedicated to its vulnerable clients.
Osbornes provides a first-class service to clients, really advocating on their behalf.
Osbornes is highly regarded for conducting judicial review challenges against local authorities and the SSHD
"Osbornes are always very good at dealing with complex cases. They are a very knowledgeable and experienced team."
"They are very flexible and accessible for vulnerable young people who don't fully understand the legal system."
"The team adapts with the constant changes that are taking place in the public law sphere; they handle complicated matters with ease."
William Ford is experienced in representing tenants in disrepair and possession claims, as well as homelessness appeals and judicial reviews concerning allocation of housing.
"I have nothing but praise for Osbornes Law. They provide an excellent client centered service. I would not hesitate to recommend them. A client would be in very safe hands with them."
‘I have worked with Osbornes on judicial reviews, in which they have an excellent reputation.’
"The team are exceptionally dedicated and hard-working. The team also have an excellent command of the applicable legal principles and are adept at exploring the best evidence on behalf of their clients."
"The team are regularly involved in complex challenges including strategic litigation and policy challenges."
‘They are a go-to for confident, diligent and careful work and really excel in client care and knowledge in the field.’
"Osbornes are an extremely strong team with highly capable solicitors, associates and partners working in public law."
"The administrative and public law team at Osbornes are highly experienced with a consistently high standard of work. They have tackled some of the most important recent public law cases involving housing and social welfare issues."
Housing and Community Care InsightsVIEW ALL
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Disabled Woman Wins £34,000 Benefits Case
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Transferring a Council House Tenancy to a Family...
Tenancy Succession Rules The loss of a loved one is always a difficult time. It is important that time is...
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Single Mother Wins in High Court Homelessness Challenge
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15.7.2024How To Deal With Rent Arrears
What can I do if I am struggling to pay off rent arrears? There are many reasons why one might...
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When can you challenge public body decisions about...
An introduction to public law Public law governs the relationship between public bodies, such as central government or local government,...
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16.4.2024Short-Form Assessments of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children
Age is just a number? Shining a light on Local Authorities’ Short-Form Assessments of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children A recent report...
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DWP Exposed for £32,000 Underpayment of Disability Benefits
Osbornes Law has assisted a vulnerable client to recover underpaid disability benefits totalling over £32,000. Our client, a disabled young man,...
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Case Reiterates Local Authorities should follow Allocation Scheme
R (on the application of Kukhtyak) -v- London Borough of Hounslow [2023] EWHC 2914 (Admin) This sad case concerned an elderly couple...
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Supreme Court sets High Threshold for Local Authorities...
Judgment was handed down on 28 November 2023 by the Supreme Court in an important case regarding the main housing duty. The...
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Gatekept homeless teenager accommodated by local housing authority
Miss X, a 17 year old whose details are anonymised to protect her privacy, left her family home in March 2022 following...
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Homelessness case successfully settled for elderly disabled lady
Ms X, whose details are anonymised to protect her privacy, had been living in a privately rented one-bedroom flat for...
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Disrepair Claim for Single Father
Background to the Claim Osbornes Law represented a private tenant, a single father living with his young son in their...
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Client successfully rehoused following refusal by local authority
Background to the case Osbornes Law represented a client who had been found intentionally homeless by his local authority. He...
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Client rehoused and £16,000 arrears cleared
Osbornes Law were instructed to assist a client to suspend a warrant for possession. The client had fallen into arrears...
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Victory for Homeless Victim
Mr X, whose details are anonymised to protect his privacy, fled his home country due to severe persecution from the...
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13.9.2023Successful homelessness judicial review case against Redbridge Council
This matter involved a claim in the High Court for judicial review against Redbridge Council for failure to comply with...
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13.7.2023Family Unlawfully Evicted Receives Damages of £22,000
Case Summary: Unlawful Eviction Claim Against Private Landlord This matter involved an unlawful eviction claim brought by our clients against...
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21.4.2023Success in Court of Appeal in child disability...
The Court of Appeal has today handed judgment in the case of Harrington v Secretary of State for Work and...
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High Court finds Westminster Council’s Housing Scheme...
Westminster City Council’s housing allocation scheme found to be unlawful The High Court has today handed down judgment finding...
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14.11.2022Housing allocation case questions lawfulness of council’s...
Until February 2022, the social housing allocation scheme for the London Borough of Newham allowed people who lived outside the borough...
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10.6.2022Housing Disrepair Claim for Leaking Pipe
Our solicitors at Osbornes Law successfully assisted a client in resolving a severe disrepair claim involving water leaks, damp, and...
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Immediate, Non-Deferrable and Unqualified
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Vulnerable child wrongly assessed to be an adult
Upper Tribunal finds a vulnerable child to be 17 years old despite two flawed local authority age assessments which led to...
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