Decision-making by just about any organisation with a ’public function’ is open to challenge in the courts by way of judicial review if it is carried out unlawfully. Judicial review is the means by which a body that has acted outside of the powers granted to it by Parliament, or has acted unreasonably or in breach of natural justice, is called to account by the court.

What you can expect

Many public lawyers act for both applicants (the party doing the challenging) and respondents (the public body decision-maker). Applicant work includes advising and acting for private individuals, pressure groups and sometimes large organisations.

You will advise on the best grounds of challenge, and consider the ways in which the argument should be put. If you are acting for the respondent, your task is to defend the decision under challenge. You might consider how the policy and practices of the public body are best used in argument. Respondent work can include advising anyone from the Secretary of State to a headteacher.

The work of a barrister working in public law can cut across an extremely wide range of subjects. For instance, in any one week you could be involved in challenging a Home Office decision on behalf of an asylum seeker, defending the refusal of planning permission on behalf of a local council and responding on behalf of a school to a claim by a parent that her child had been unfairly expelled.

Tips for success

You will need:

• a common-sense approach
• the ability to work with people from varied backgrounds.