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LAA reverses Exceptional Case Funding refusal after pre-action judicial review challenge

The Legal Aid Agency reversed its refusal of Exceptional Case Funding and Legal Help following a pre-action judicial review challenge brought by Simpson Millar's Public Law and Human Rights team. The case highlights how applicants outside the family categories prescribed by LASPO may still qualify for legal aid where Convention rights are engaged and demonstrates the importance of challenging funding decisions where an initial refusal may be based on an overly restrictive interpretation of the law.

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Can AI determine a child’s age? The legal questions behind the Home Office's use of Facial Age Estimation

The Home Office's proposed use of AI-assisted Facial Age Estimation (FAE) for asylum seekers has raised significant legal and safeguarding concerns. This article explores how the technology works, the legal framework governing age assessments, why children's organisations are concerned, and whether AI can be used consistently with existing protections. It also explains how disputed age assessments can be challenged and what the growing use of AI could mean for children's rights.

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Client’s story: urgent legal action prevents removal of trafficking victim at high risk of suicide

This case study explains how urgent legal action by Simpson Millar prevented the removal of a trafficking victim at high risk of suicide. Despite medical evidence confirming he was unfit to fly, removal directions were issued. Through judicial review proceedings brought hours before removal, the Home Office cancelled the decision. The client was later released from detention and is now receiving support whilst his trafficking claim is reconsidered, highlighting the importance of early legal intervention in protecting vulnerable individuals.

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World Day of Social Justice 2026: Fair access to health and social care

World Day of Social Justice 2026 highlights the importance of fair access to health and social care in England. Despite clear legal duties under the Care Act 2014 and the Human Rights Act 1998, many people face delays, incorrect assessments and underfunded care packages. This article explains why transparency, accountability and early legal intervention matter, and how challenging unlawful decisions can improve safety, independence and dignity for individuals and families.

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Human Trafficking Awareness Day 2026: Why survivor-centred legal support matters

Human Trafficking Awareness Day 2026 highlights why awareness alone is not enough to protect survivors of trafficking. Drawing on frontline legal experience, this article explains how exploitation is often missed, misunderstood, or disbelieved due to trauma, delayed disclosure, and rigid decision-making systems. It explores the realities of trafficking in the UK, the challenges within the National Referral Mechanism, and why survivor-centred, trauma-informed legal support is essential to ensure people are properly recognised, safeguarded, and supported.

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Deaths in custody reach record high: Legal help and Human Rights insights

Deaths in prison custody have reached a record high, raising urgent human rights concerns. New figures show a sharp rise in self-inflicted deaths, self-harm and unsafe conditions across the prison estate. Chronic staff shortages, widespread drug use, inadequate mental health care and serious safeguarding failures are placing lives at risk. When someone dies in custody, inquests play a vital role in uncovering the truth and holding public authorities to account.

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World Human Rights Day 2025: the everyday rights people rely on, and how public law protects them

This article marks World Human Rights Day 2025 by exploring how human rights shape the everyday essentials people rely on, from safe housing and SEN support to fair asylum decisions and transparent public processes. It explains current challenges across the UK and outlines how public law protects individuals when decisions are unfair or unlawful. The piece also highlights insights from Shalini Patel on the importance of collaboration in strengthening rights in practice.

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Update: Home Office limits reconsideration requests for trafficking victims facing removal

On 17 September 2025, the Home Office changed the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) rules, limiting who can ask for trafficking decisions to be reconsidered. People facing removal to countries signed up to both the ECAT and ECHR treaties can no longer request a review, even if new evidence emerges. This removes a key safeguard for survivors and increases reliance on urgent legal action such as judicial review or injunctions.

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The UK-France returns agreement, modern slavery claims, and what the courts have decided so far

In July 2025, the UK and France made a returns agreement. This type of agreement sets out how people who move across borders without permission can be sent back, and how each country will handle who they take in return. Under the deal, people who crossed the Channel into Britain could be returned to France. In exchange, France would send to the UK the same number of people with family links in Britain. The agreement was described as reciprocal, but it was quickly challenged in court.

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The Hillsborough Law: rhetoric or reform? Why we need the law to get to the truth

The Hillsborough Law, officially the Public Authority (Accountability) Bill, proposes a statutory duty of candour, stronger accountability for public bodies, and guaranteed legal representation for bereaved families at inquests. Inspired by campaigns after the Hillsborough disaster and other public scandals, the Bill addresses long-standing failures of transparency and fairness. If passed, it could transform how public bodies are held to account and help rebuild trust in state institutions through clearer duties and stronger enforcement.

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