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.
“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.”
“Osbornes are always very good at dealing with complex cases. They are a very knowledgeable and experienced team.”
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.
Contact us today
For a free initial conversation call 020 7485 8811
Email us Send us an email and we’ll get back to you
"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
14.7.202220 Years of Celebrating Legal Aid Lawyers
This year the litigation team at Osbornes attended the 20th anniversary of the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2022 (“LALY 2022”)...
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16.5.2022Immediate, Non-Deferrable and Unqualified
Judgment was handed down on 04 May 2022 in the Court of Appeal in an important case regarding the main housing duty....
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5.11.2021Council overturns unlawful housing policy
Homeless teenager claims victory for more than 1,200 homeless people after forcing council to overturn unlawful housing policy A homeless teenager...
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3.9.2021Homeless Teenager takes London Council to High Court
A homeless teenager is taking a London council to the High Court for ‘unlawfully’ banning hundreds of homeless people from...
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19.8.2021Housing Disrepair Scandal in South London
Following an investigation by ITV nearly 500 homes in the Eastfields Estate in Mitcham, south London, owned by the housing association...
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14.5.2021Possession Claims Amends Due to Pandemic
Last year I set out in two blogs the amendments implemented by the Government in the procedure for residential possession ...
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8.4.2021Council to amend unlawful housing allocation banding process
For the last 8 years Brent Council has stopped the majority of homeless applicants from bidding for rehousing, treating them as ‘...
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22.2.2021Trapped in your Home Lockdown or Not! – The...
Thousands of leaseholders are facing huge bills for safety improvements to their building after the Grenfell disaster. As a result...
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29.1.2021What does the national lockdown mean for possession...
The coronavirus pandemic has caused disruption to all elements of life, and possession proceedings are no exception. The number of...
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25.1.2021Hackney Council ignore vulnerable resident’s request
Paranoid schizophrenic ignored by Hackney Council for four years wins legal battle over unsafe front door A man who suffers...
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25.1.2021Teenage asylum seeker wins legal battle against Council...
Vulnerable teenage asylum seeker wins age case against the council which unlawfully assessed him A vulnerable teenager who sought asylum...
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23.12.2020EU Nationals with Pre-Settled Status entitled to benefits...
Court Judgment means EU Nationals with Pre-Settled Status can access benefits and housing On 18 December 2020 the Court of Appeal handed...
Read more- 2.12.2020
Education provision to age disputed migrants
The thorny issue of education provision to age disputed migrants There was an interesting article in The Guardian last week...
Read more - 24.11.2020
Is the delay in the Renters Reform Bill...
There have been issues tenants have faced for a long time before pandemic; namely no fault evictions and the other...
Read more - 20.11.2020
Up Up and away to the First Tier...
This year we assisted in written representations for a welfare benefit case in the Upper Tribunal. This is a Housing...
Read more - 20.11.2020
You are homeless because you are in shared...
It is well established that shared facilities are not suitable for families with children as long term accommodation. The client...
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24.8.2020Housing Lawyer at Osbornes comments on the government’...
Alex McMahon, expert housing lawyer in the housing and community care department at Osbornes has been quoted in various publications...
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13.8.2020Judicial review – friend or foe?
The Government announced on 31st July 2020 that an independent panel has been asked to look at judicial review to consider...
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24.7.2020Rejecting tenants on housing benefit deemed indirect discrimination
In a recent decision in the County Court at York it was held that a letting agent’s policy of...
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27.5.2020I am vulnerable and homeless but the Council...
Homelessness law and procedure can be very complicated. We hope this blog gives you some helpful pointers but it is...
Read more- 5.5.2020
I have lost my job and I have...
The impact of the current pandemic is being felt by many, but the prospect of losing your job or not...
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4.5.2020I am renting from a private landlord and...
I know that many individuals across the country are extremely worried about the instability of their housing. This was a...
Read more- 4.5.2020
No recourse to public funds in the time...
Anyone working in the field of social welfare law will be familiar with the term “no recourse to public funds”....
Read more - 29.4.2020
Case news: Housing benefit decision addresses issue of...
The background You might be forgiven for thinking that the question of whether a course is full time or part...
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