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Human Rights and Civil Liberties
Decisions made by public bodies can affect fundamental aspects of your life, including your home, your family, your health and your ability to live with dignity. Where those decisions interfere with your basic rights or treat you unfairly, it is important to understand what can be done to challenge them.
At Watkins Solicitors, our Public Law and Human Rights team supports individuals, families and organisations across England in protecting their rights and holding public bodies to account. We provide clear, practical advice to help you understand your position and take steps to challenge decisions that are unlawful, discriminatory or disproportionate.
How Public Law Protects Human Rights
Public law, including judicial review, is one of the main legal routes used to protect human rights in the United Kingdom. It allows the courts to examine whether decisions made by public bodies are lawful, fair and compatible with fundamental rights.
This includes rights protected under:
Where a public body fails to take these rights into account, or interferes with them without proper justification, that decision may be challenged.
Judicial review can be used to:
Our role is to help you understand whether your rights may have been affected and what legal steps can be taken to protect them.
Key Areas of Human Rights and Civil Liberties Work
We act across a wide range of cases where human rights and civil liberties are at the centre of the issue. These matters are often complex and time-sensitive, and can have a significant impact on individuals and families.
Immigration and Detention
We advise in cases where individuals are affected by immigration decisions or detention that may be unlawful or unfair.
Examples include:
These cases often require urgent action, particularly where a person’s liberty or safety is at risk.
Housing and Living Conditions
Access to safe and suitable housing is closely linked to fundamental rights, including dignity, health and family life.
We support individuals and families where public bodies have failed to meet their responsibilities.
Examples include:
We help clients hold local authorities accountable and ensure that housing decisions are made properly and fairly.
Policing and Public Authority Powers
Public bodies, including the police, must exercise their powers lawfully and proportionately.
We advise in cases where those powers may have been used unfairly or without proper legal basis.
Examples include:
These cases often involve careful analysis of both the law and the facts to assess whether a challenge is appropriate.
Discrimination and Equality
Public bodies must act in a way that is fair and does not discriminate unlawfully. They must also consider how their decisions affect different groups.
We advise where decisions may be discriminatory or where equality duties have not been properly followed.
Examples include:
These cases can involve both individual challenges and wider issues affecting groups of people.
Health and Social Care
Decisions about healthcare and support can have a direct impact on wellbeing and quality of life.
We act in cases where those decisions have not been made properly or fairly.
Examples include:
We focus on ensuring that decisions are made lawfully and that individuals receive the support they are entitled to.
A Focus on Accountability and Fairness
Many human rights cases involve not only individual decisions but wider issues about how public bodies operate.
We act in cases that:
This includes working with charities, community organisations and advice agencies to address issues that go beyond a single case.
What This Means for You
If your rights have been affected, or you believe a decision has been unfair or discriminatory, it can be difficult to know what to do next.
We will:
Early advice can often make a significant difference, particularly in urgent situations or where time limits apply.
We Are Here to Help
At Watkins Solicitors, our Public Law and Human Rights team supports individuals, families and professionals across England in challenging decisions made by public bodies. We are widely recognised for our specialist expertise and for acting in complex and often urgent cases where early action is critical.
We understand that situations leading to judicial review are often stressful and time-sensitive. Our approach is to provide clear, practical advice from the outset, helping you understand your position, your options and the steps needed to move forward with confidence. You will have a team that is approachable, responsive and focused on achieving the best possible outcome for you.
We guide clients through every stage of the process, from early advice and pre-action steps through to court proceedings where necessary. Wherever possible, we focus on resolving issues efficiently and effectively, including exploring opportunities to achieve a positive outcome without the need for a full hearing.
We also hold a Public Law Legal Aid contract and can advise you on whether funding may be available, ensuring that access to justice is considered from the very beginning.
If you are considering a judicial review or are unsure about costs or funding, our team offers an initial conversation to help you understand your options and what action may be needed.
You can contact us by emailing info@watkinssolicitors.co.uk or calling 0117 939 0350 to speak to a member of the team.