Pursuing to court and finding a solicitor

On this page:

• What might it cost?
• Finding a solicitor

What might it cost? 

Legal aid is available for many judicial review cases provided that a person meets both the financial test and merits requirements (that is, that the claimant has a good case).

Judicial review cases are heard in the Administrative Court, this is a division of the High Court. The Administrative Court deals with the majority of its work at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, but there are also regional centres in Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester (though papers cannot be lodged at Bristol). Occasionally, JR cases may be transferred to be heard in the Upper Tribunal when the social security expertise of the Upper Tribunal is required. 

Without legal aid it is very expensive to bring a judicial review case in the High Court (it is not unusual for the litigation to cost upwards of £25,000 and, if unsuccessful, the claimant is likely to be ordered by the Court to pay the defendant’s costs as well as having to pay their own solicitor’s costs).

However, if your client is eligible for legal aid, their own legal costs will be paid for by the Legal Aid Agency and generally the defendant’s costs will be too, if the legal case is unsuccessful. See 'How to Apply for Legal Aid Funding for Judicial Review' on the Public Law Project's website for more information. 

Your client may be able to apply for Exceptional Case Funding before you refer them to a solicitor,  see 'Legal aid Exceptional Case Funding (‘ECF’): Applying without the help of an adviser or solicitor' on the Public Law Project's website for information, seek advice from the solicitor you intend to refer them to first. 

Therefore, the cost should not prevent your client from pursuing their case, provided they are eligible for legal aid and can find a solicitor to represent them. But, as previously stated, the matter should usually be resolved at the pre-action stage.

Finding a solicitor

Below is a map of law firms (including Law Centres) who may be able to take referrals to litigate judicial review claims (actions) on welfare benefit issues. This map was last reviewed in February 2024. Your client does not in most cases need to be local to the law firm / centre you refer them to for public law matters.

Using the map

Click on the flags to find out more about each firm including relevant contact details.

Making your referral

Include any relevant time limits such as the date of the decision you wish to challenge (or that it is a delay) and of any correspondence. Note the 'promptly and within 3 months' time limit to apply for judicial review from the date of the decision that you want to challenge (ie, not from any subsequent correspondence) .

How this map has been created

The firms shown on the map have largely been identified using the Law Society web page, 'Find a Solicitor' using the search terms 'benefits and allowances’ ‘administrative and public law’ and ‘judicial review’. Each firm identified has then been contacted by CPAG by email and has confirmed to CPAG:

• that their firm is able to take referrals from advice workers to pursue judicial review litigation on social security issues;
• whether they hold a public law legal aid contract or can take referrals on a pro bono basis, and
• how / who advisers should contact to make a referral.