The Public Law team at Lincoln House work with clients who are concerned with claims about procedural injustice.

Chambers initially responded to the need for representation in judicial reviews of administrative action that affected criminal clients or professional clients who work in field of criminal law enforcement. These cases concerned challenges to search warrants in which members of chambers have acted for both defendants and for the police. They also concerned the release and recall of prisoners and actions by the Parole Board and Prison Service. There is an overlap too with the work undertaken by the regulatory team, whose work may generate judicial or statutory review. Latterly, the work has expanded to include the representation of the Independent Police Complaints Commission in public law cases.

Examples of cases conducted by the team include a challenge to a decision of a Magistrates Court to commit four youths to the Crown Court for trial, a challenge to a decision to proceed to grant an ASBO in the absence of child defendants and a challenge on the ground of bias against a decision of the Parole Board refusing release after recall.

We can provide Counsel to give written advice, to draft documents of claim and to provide representation at any hearings before the Administrative Court, in London or at one of the regional centres.

We are happy to give preliminary informal advice over the telephone and are willing, depending on the circumstances of the case, to accept briefs on a pro bono basis in order to assist in obtaining public funding.