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Judicial Review & Regulatory Solicitors
We care about your rights and when they have been violated we’ll stand with you to do something about it.
At Watkins Solicitors we provide a specialist service for people to challenge unlawful decisions made by government departments, councils, NHS Trusts, education authorities and schools, and so on.
Judicial Review is about making public bodies get it right. It is a fundamental part of our democratic rights to bring public bodies to justice.
Watkins Solicitors have a Legal Aid contract for Public Law, which means that we can act for people who are financially eligible for legal aid to bring Judicial Review proceedings.
Although based in Bristol, we act for people across the country, bringing challenges against an array of public bodies.
Our specialist service includes Dr Keith Lomax who qualified as a solicitor in 1988 and has a long-standing commitment to human rights and public law challenges. For over 30 years he has been challenging public authorities for people who feel that their rights have been violated.
Keith’s public law work was nationally recognised with Winner of the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Award (LALY award) 2017.
Check out examples of his cases on our Notable Cases page.
Appeals for professionals suspended or struck off by regulatory bodies such as the GMC, NMC, HCPC – acting in High Court appeals and for people facing panels of the Nursing & Midwifery Council, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal, and other panels that decide on fitness to practise and sanctions.
Community care challenges e.g. for single parents in need of accommodation and financial support for their children where the parent has no recourse to public funds; Disabled Facilities Grants matters; failure to assess care needs or to provide for people’s needs.
Arguing in the High Court and at tribunal appeals for suitable education provision for children with special educational needs, in particular, autism and Aspergers Syndrome. Challenging council policies over school transport for disabled children. Challenging reduced provision for over 16 year olds with special needs.
Judicial review cases for refugees and asylum seekers in the Administrative Court and Upper Tribunal (IAC). Victims of torture, domestic violence, Home Office refusals of asylum fresh claims, fee waiver decisions, visa refusals, and against local Councils who fail to provide sufficient support under s.17 Children Act 1989 for families with no recourse to public funds.
Disclosure can be the kiss of death to employment prospects. Where it is wrong, out of date, disproportionate, in breach of human rights, challenges can be brought to put it right.