Key Areas of Expertise and Who We Represent

Specialist public law and human rights advice across a wide range of decisions and disputes

At Watkins Solicitors, our Public Law and Human Rights team advises on a wide range of matters where decisions made by public bodies have a direct impact on individuals, families, organisations and businesses.

These situations are often stressful, time-sensitive and difficult to navigate alone.

Our role is to help you understand what has happened, what can be done and how to take the next steps with clarity and confidence.

To speak to our team, please call 0117 939 0350 or email info@watkinssolicitors.co.uk.

Wide-ranging expertise

Specialist advice across housing, care, education, immigration, regulation and human rights.

Urgent support

Experience in complex and time-sensitive matters where early action is important.

Joined-up advice

A broader view of overlapping Public Law, Education, Family and Human Rights issues.

Legal Aid advice

Guidance on whether Public Law Legal Aid funding may be available.

Our Key Areas of Expertise

We act across a broad range of public law and human rights matters where a decision has not been made lawfully, fairly or with proper regard to the circumstances.

Public law issues can affect many areas of daily life

Our work includes decisions about housing, care, education, immigration, healthcare, professional regulation, procurement, liberty and wider human rights concerns.

Where necessary, this may involve judicial review or another legal route to challenge the decision effectively.

Housing, Community Care and Education

Housing and Homelessness

We support individuals and families where decisions about housing and homelessness have not been made properly or fairly, including urgent cases where people are left without safe or suitable accommodation.

Challenges to homelessness decisions and duties
Housing allocation and priority banding disputes
Refusals to provide accommodation or assistance
Failures to provide suitable or appropriate housing
Delays in decision-making leaving individuals without support

Community Care and Support

We advise where care and support needs are not being properly assessed or met, particularly for vulnerable individuals and families.

Failures to carry out care assessments
Unlawful reductions or withdrawal of support
Refusals to provide accommodation or assistance
Delays leaving individuals without essential services
Challenges involving children’s services
Welfare support and subsistence decisions, including failures to provide financial assistance

Education and Children’s Services

We support children, young people and families where decisions about education or support have not been made properly.

Failure to deliver provision set out in an EHCP
Children being left without suitable education
Delays in assessments or placement decisions
Failures by local authorities to meet legal duties
Issues involving safeguarding or children’s services

These matters can have an immediate impact on safety, stability, education and daily life. Early advice can help prevent problems from escalating further.

Immigration, Health, Planning and Accommodation

Immigration, Asylum and Detention

We act in public law challenges involving immigration and asylum decisions, particularly where the process has been unfair or unlawful.

Refusal of asylum or immigration applications without proper consideration
Failure to consider relevant evidence or new information
Lack of accommodation or support
Challenges involving detention or conditions of detention
Cases involving vulnerable individuals or families

NHS Treatment, Medication and Funding Challenges

We advise on challenges to decisions made by NHS organisations and other health bodies.

This may include:

Refusals to provide treatment
Refusals to provide medication
Treatments or medicines not routinely available through the NHS
Individual Funding Request decisions
NHS funding decisions
Healthcare eligibility criteria
Policies applied by NHS bodies
Failures to properly consider relevant evidence
Urgent decisions with immediate consequences

Where appropriate, this may involve pre-action correspondence, negotiation with the relevant public body or judicial review proceedings.

Health, Social Care, Human Rights and Inquests

Planning, Housing Sites and Traveller Matters

We advise on planning and accommodation-related public law challenges, including cases affecting Gypsy and Traveller communities.

Planning refusals and enforcement action
Challenges affecting Gypsy and Traveller sites
Evictions and accommodation disputes
Failures by local authorities to plan for site provision

These cases are often complex and time-sensitive, particularly where accommodation, healthcare, detention or a person’s home and way of life are at risk.

Professional Regulation, Procurement and Human Rights

Professional Regulation and DBS Matters

We support professionals and individuals where decisions affect their career, reputation or ability to work.

Fitness to practise proceedings
Regulatory investigations and decisions
DBS disclosure challenges
Police information disclosures
Unfair or disproportionate regulatory action

Public Procurement and Commercial Public Law

We act for businesses and organisations in disputes involving public bodies, particularly in commercial and regulatory contexts.

Challenges to public procurement processes
Tender evaluation and contract award decisions
Regulatory decisions affecting business operations
Financial services and compliance issues
Public law challenges involving commercial interests

Human Rights and Wider Public Law Issues

Many cases involve wider human rights concerns or issues that affect more than one individual.

Interference with family or private life
Discrimination and equality issues
Failures to protect vulnerable individuals
Decisions affecting housing, education or wellbeing
Disproportionate decisions impacting livelihood or dignity

We provide clear advice where a decision affects a person’s career, reputation, livelihood, business interests, private life or dignity.

Detention, Liberty and Strategic Public Law Challenges

Detention, Prison and Liberty Cases

We advise on decisions affecting liberty and detention, including cases involving prisons, immigration detention and other forms of state control.

Decisions affecting detention or release
Prison and probation decisions
Cases involving unsafe conditions or treatment
Failures to protect individuals in state care

Strategic and Systemic Public Law Challenges

Public law is not only about individual decisions. In some cases, wider policies or repeated failures by public bodies can be challenged.

Challenges to unlawful policies or practices
Repeated failures to follow legal duties
Systemic issues affecting groups or communities
Cases brought with charities, NGOs or advice organisations

Some public law cases can lead to wider change

Strategic cases may improve outcomes not only for one person, but also for others affected by the same unlawful policy, practice or repeated failure.

Who We Represent

We act for a wide range of clients across England, reflecting the breadth of our public law and human rights work.

Individuals, families and vulnerable clients

Individuals and families affected by decisions about housing, education, care or immigration
Children and vulnerable individuals, often through parents, carers or representatives
Individuals in urgent or crisis situations, including those without housing, support or access to services
Charities and community organisations supporting those affected

Organisations, professionals and businesses

Advice agencies and NGOs identifying unlawful practices
Professionals facing regulatory or disciplinary action
Businesses involved in procurement or regulatory disputes
Clients who may be eligible for Legal Aid funding

Whatever your situation, our focus is on understanding the impact the decision has had and what can be done to resolve it.

A Joined-Up Approach

Looking beyond the immediate decision

Public law issues rarely sit in isolation. A housing issue may involve social care. An education issue may involve wider family or human rights concerns.

Focusing on one issue alone does not always resolve the underlying problem.

We consider the full context and whether other legal duties or protections apply.

Drawing on wider specialist expertise

Our strength is in drawing on expertise across Public Law, Education, Family and Human Rights.

This broader view helps us identify the most effective route, whether that involves judicial review or another legal process.

Our advice is legally accurate, practical, realistic and tailored to your circumstances.

Understanding Your Situation

Every case is different. What matters most is understanding how the decision has affected you and what outcome you need.

Understand your situation

We take the time to understand what has happened and the impact on you or your family.

Review the decision

We consider how the public body reached its decision and what evidence is available.

Assess whether it can be challenged

We explain whether there may be a legal basis to challenge the decision.

Identify the right route

We advise whether judicial review, an appeal, complaint or another route is most appropriate.

Explain funding and urgency

We advise on time limits, urgent action and whether Legal Aid may be available.

Take practical next steps

We help you move forward with clear, realistic advice focused on the best possible outcome.

Unsure which area of public law applies to your situation?

Our team can assess the decision, identify the legal issues and explain the most appropriate route and next steps.

Call 0117 939 0350 Send an email enquiry

We Are Here to Help

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 specialist expertise and for acting in complex and often urgent cases where early action is critical.

Our approach is clear, practical and responsive, helping you understand your position, options and next steps.

Support Through Every Stage

We guide clients from early advice and pre-action steps through to court proceedings where necessary.

Wherever possible, we focus on resolving issues efficiently and effectively, including opportunities to achieve a positive outcome without a full hearing.

We hold a Public Law Legal Aid contract and can advise whether funding may be available.

Contact Our Public Law and Human Rights Solicitors

If a decision made by a public body has affected you, your family, organisation, profession or business, our team can help you understand whether it may be challenged and what should happen next.

We advise individuals, families, professionals, organisations and businesses across England.

Call 0117 939 0350 Email the team

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