Every Government department decision — a grant refused, a scheme payment withheld, a permission revoked, an application left undecided for years — is an exercise of statutory power. When that power is exercised unlawfully, unfairly or not at all, judicial review is the remedy. We act for individuals, families and businesses challenging departments and State agencies across the full range of their functions.
Judicial review time limits are strict, are sometimes much shorter than three months, and can run from an earlier date than you expect. The courts can refuse late applications even within the stated period if you have not acted promptly. Nothing on this page calculates your deadline. If you believe a decision affecting you may be unlawful, contact a solicitor immediately.
The Recurring Situations
- Refusals without engagement: template decisions that never grapple with the application actually made — challengeable on the reasons ground;
- Decisions that never arrive: applications pending for years — met with mandamus compelling a decision;
- Scheme and policy misapplication: bodies fettering their discretion by treating guidelines as iron rules, or departing from published policy without reason — classic legitimate expectation territory;
- Procedures that were not fair: adverse decisions made on material you never saw or were never allowed to answer;
- Powers exceeded: conditions imposed, demands made or sanctions applied that the governing statute never authorised.
How These Cases Actually Resolve
More often than people expect: before a hearing. A precise pre-action letter — identifying the statutory power, the defect and the remedy — frequently produces the decision, the reasons or the re-consideration that was being withheld, because departments litigate selectively and settle the cases they will lose. Where proceedings are needed, we move for leave promptly and conduct the case with the costs discipline High Court litigation demands. Read: the pre-action letter explained and how long judicial review takes.
Stonewalled by a Department?
Bring us the refusal - or the silence. We will tell you whether it is challengeable and what one letter might achieve.
Call 01 5827148