Public Lawyers Worldwide.

Public Law governs the vertical relationship between the state and the individual, ensuring the government follows the rules (Constitutional, Administrative, and Criminal Law). Private Law handles horizontal disputes between individuals or private companies, such as contracts, torts, or property disputes. If you sue your neighbor over a fence, that is Private Law; if you sue the City Council for denying your building permit, that is Public Law.

Judicial Review is a court proceeding where a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision made by a public body, rather than whether the decision was “right” or “wrong” on the merits. A lawyer uses this process to challenge decisions that are illegal, irrational, or procedurally unfair. It is a powerful tool; in the UK, thousands of Judicial Review applications are filed annually, forcing government departments to follow proper procedure rather than acting arbitrarily.

Yes, lawyers are experts at drafting FOI requests to extract specific data while navigating the complex exemptions governments use to hide it. They know how to phrase requests to avoid rejection for being “too broad” and can appeal if the agency claims the information is “commercially sensitive.” In the US, FOIA lawsuits filed by lawyers have hit record highs in recent years, proving that legal pressure is often necessary to force transparency from reluctant government agencies.

“Ultra vires” is Latin for “beyond the powers.” It occurs when a government body acts outside the specific legal authority granted to it by a statute. If a lawyer proves an agency acted ultra vires—like a local council fining you for something they have no legal right to regulate—the court will declare that decision “void ab initio,” meaning it effectively never existed legally. This is the foundational concept of checking government overreach.

A Public lawyer acts as a shield during investigations by regulators like the SEC or the UK’s FCA. They manage the flow of documents to ensure you comply with subpoenas without handing over privileged legal advice. Crucially, they prepare executives for “compelled interviews,” ensuring they answer truthfully without accidentally admitting to crimes they didn’t commit. Their goal is to contain the scope of the probe and negotiate a settlement before it turns into a public enforcement action.

Historically, “Sovereign Immunity” meant the state could do no wrong and couldn’t be sued. Today, laws like the US Federal Tort Claims Act waive this immunity in specific cases, allowing you to sue for operational negligence like a postal truck hitting your car. However, you generally still cannot sue for “discretionary policy decisions.” If the government makes a policy choice you dislike, you have to vote them out, not sue them; immunity still protects high-level political decision-making.

In the wake of national disasters like the Grenfell Tower fire or the COVID-19 pandemic, a Public Inquiry is established to find the truth. Lawyers play a central role here, representing “Core Participants” (victims, corporations, or officials) to examine evidence and cross-examine witnesses. Their job is to ensure their client’s narrative is heard and to influence the final report’s recommendations, which often reshape national laws for decades to come.

Human rights laws act as a “constitutional floor” that administrative decisions cannot drop below. In the UK, the Human Rights Act 1998 requires all public bodies to act compatibly with the European Convention on Human Rights. This means a lawyer can challenge a technically legal administrative decision—like deporting a foreign criminal—if it disproportionately violates their right to family life. It adds a layer of fundamental rights protection on top of standard bureaucratic procedure.