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...
A round-up of key developments on State aid, first reported by the Lexis+ Competition team. This update covers the period 3–9 June 2026....
This round-up includes details of publications made by Specialised Committees established by the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) for the...
The leader of the Conservative party, Kemi Badenoch, has announced that the party proposes the repeal of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) under...
The National Security (State Threats) Bill has had its first reading in the House of Commons. The Bill would amend the National Security Act 2023 to...
Latest Public Law Practice Notes
This Practice Note covers false imprisonment generally and in the personal injury context. It discusses liability, limitation, causes of action,...
This Practice Note deals with the tort of misfeasance and the ingredients of the tort, where the tortfeasor is a public officer, the requirement for...
This Practice Note considers judicial review grounds of challenge in Scotland.For guidance on:•Other aspects of judicial review in Scotland, see...
FORTHCOMING CHANGE: This Practice Note reflects the current legislative position, however, note that certain elements may be impacted by the Digital...
This Practice Note introduces the general prohibition under Chapter V of the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation, Assimilated Regulation...
Latest Public Law Precedents
CauseHow much does it contribute to the problem? (0 = not at all, 10 = a lot)How easy is it...
We take your privacy very seriously. Please read this privacy policy carefully as it contains important information on who we are and how and why we...
1Interest on late paymentIf either party fails to make payment in accordance with this Agreement the other party shall be entitled, in addition to any...
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
Alternative business structure
Alternative Business Structures (ABSs) are regulated legal services businesses which are partially, or wholly, owned by non lawyers.
Implemented consulting
A service offered by pensions consultants under which they take the investment management decisions on behalf of the trustees.
Sears Tooth agreement
An agreement between a client and a solicitor providing for delayed payment for work undertaken by the solicitor by way of an assisgment of rights in assets to be secured.
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