About Public Law
As a government lawyer your clients are experiencing various impacts on policy making from numerous and competing interests such as austerity, efficiency, collective/individual rights, European and devolved/delegated jurisdictions. Your job advising on legislation and risk of challenge through judicial review is increasingly time consuming and complex.
Brexit
With reform of retained EU law high on the agenda, post-Brexit legal changes remains a key issue. Get key information and updates for all practitioners, with practice area specific Brexit content across the modules.
Judicial Review
We outline the key principles and procedural requirements with a clear focus on the public sector perspective. The content focusses primarily on judicial review in the Administrative Court in England and Wales.
Public Procurement
Failure to stick to procedures can have significant legal, financial and practical consequences for a contracting authority. We guide you through various processes, focussing on the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.
Expertise on all matters
An essential resource providing guidance & materials on core legal subjects relevant to lawyers in all areas of legal practice, as well as specialist content designed to assist government lawyers in a range of key areas
Topics We Cover
Latest Public Law News
This week's edition of Public Law weekly highlights includes a hand-picked summary of news analysis, legal updates and case law from the world of...
The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee (SLSC) has published its 10th report of session 2026–27. At its meeting on 21 July 2026,...
HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has updated its MyHMCTS guidance for legal professionals on issuing damages claims online. The revised guidance...
The House of Lords Constitution Committee has launched a call for evidence for its inquiry into the UK's constitutional safeguards. The inquiry aims...
The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed the appeal in R (on the application of Bano) v London Borough of Waltham Forest, holding that the main...
Latest Public Law Practice Notes
Termination—contractual and common law rightsAs commercial lawyers, we are used to being instructed to advise in connection with the formation of a...
The table lists completed all completed cases referred to the Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 (SCA 2022).For information...
BackgroundOn 4 January 2023, the Subsidy Control Act 2022 (SCA 2022) entered into force. For further details regarding the SCA 2022, see further,...
Below tracks recent European Commission ongoing in-depth investigations and ongoing State aid sector inquiries. Closed investigations are moved to EU...
The tables below comprise an archive of news analysis on Scotland and Scots law developments published within various practice areas. For specific...
Latest Public Law Precedents
SummaryThe Bribery Act 2010 (BA 2010) came into force on 1 July 2011. It applies to any business incorporated or trading in the UK and covers bribery...
ARCHIVED: This Precedent has been archived and is not maintained.[Name][Address]Ref No: [number][Date]...
ARCHIVED: This Precedent has been archived and is not maintained.STOP PRESS: As of 24 February 2025, the main provisions of the Procurement Act 2023...
ARCHIVED: This Precedent has been archived and is not maintained.STOP PRESS: As of 24 February 2025, the main provisions of the Procurement Act 2023...
ARCHIVED: This Precedent has been archived and is not maintained.STOP PRESS: As of 24 February 2025, the main provisions of the Procurement Act 2023...
Latest Public Law Q&As
Featured Public Law content
Sources of constitutional law
Sources of constitutional lawIn briefThe British constitution is unwritten in the sense that it does not derive from a single constitutional text. It...
Methods of statutory interpretation
Methods of statutory interpretation used to resolve disputes about the meaning of legislationIntroduction to statutory interpretationThe aim of...
Convention rights—structure of qualified rights
Convention rights—structure of qualified rightsThe rights preserved under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), as set out in the Human...
Judicial review—time limits and the pre-action protocol
Judicial review—time limits and the pre-action protocolWhen considering whether and how to bring a claim for judicial review, the first step is to...
Grounds of judicial review—unreasonableness
Grounds of judicial review—unreasonablenessThis Practice Note outlines the ground of judicial review usually known as unreasonableness or...
What is fettering of discretion in judicial review? When is it an actionable ground of challenge and what must be established for a challenge to succeed?
Separation of powers—legislative, executive and judiciary
Separation of powers—legislative, executive and judiciarySource of the doctrine of the separation of powersThe origins of the doctrine of the...
Grounds of judicial review—illegality
Grounds of judicial review—illegalityOverview of the illegality groundIllegality is the first of the grounds on judicial review set out by Lord...
What is a public authority?
What is a public authority?There is no single, universal answer to the question whether a particular organisation is treated, in law, as a public...
Grounds of judicial review—procedural impropriety
Grounds of judicial review—procedural improprietyProcedural impropriety as a ground of judicial review‘Procedural impropriety’ is the last of the...
Judicial review—interested parties and interveners
Judicial review—interested parties and intervenersInterested partiesIn the context of judicial review, an interested party is 'any person (other than...
Parliamentary supremacy—implied repeal
Parliamentary supremacy—implied repealEssential to Parliament’s legislative supremacy is the principle that Parliament is not bound by its...
What is the legal basis and effect of revoking UK legislation?
Grounds of judicial review—breach of legitimate expectation
Grounds of judicial review—breach of legitimate expectationThe ground of challenge based on legitimate expectations is designed to hold a public...
Royal Charters
Royal ChartersWhat is a Royal Charter?The term 'Royal Charter' has transformed over time. Originally, a Royal Charter was a procedure by which the...
Costs for judicial review—general principles
Costs for judicial review—general principlesGeneral rule on costs in judicial reviewThe general rule in relation to costs in judicial review, as in...
Judicial review—what it is and when it can be used
Judicial review—what it is and when it can be usedWhat is judicial review?Judicial review is a process by which the courts exercise a supervisory...
Judicial deference and the margin of appreciation
Judicial deference and the margin of appreciationJudicial deference is also known as the principle that 'respect is a central concept in judicial...
Associated legal terms
Environmental Work (model laws definition)
[means work that will improve the local or national environment or ecology, is aligned with the agreement'>Paris Agreement Goals and the UN Sustainable Development Goals and that does not contravene the UN guiding principles on business and human rights. This work includes, but is not limited to, tree planting projects, clearing and rewilding derelict land, habitat creation, or projects to install energy efficiency measures. OR means work that: (a) contributes to preserving or restoring the environment by limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions; improving energy efficiency, minimising the use of raw materials, waste and pollution, protecting and restoring ecosystems and supporting adaptation to the effects of climate change, or (b) produces goods or provides services that benefit the environment.]
Negotiable instrument
A negotiable instrument is a written document which includes the legal characteristics of negotiability.
Statutory residence test (SRT)
Statutory rules contained in Schedule 45 to the Finance Act 2013 which determine an individual's residence for UK tax purposes.
CONTACT US
