Getting it right first time: Making lawful decisions (Webinar Series) - Public Law Project

Decision-makers in public bodies, and those supporting them, carry the enormous responsibility of making often life-changing decisions that affect many people. It’s important to get those decisions right first time.

Our four webinars will guide you on acting fairly, and within the law, covering the key aspects of decision-making including:Preparation, Consultation, Holding a hearing, Accessibility, Compliance with Human Rights and Equalities law and Remedies available when decision-making goes wrong.

Each session includes a presentation followed by a chaired panel discussion, with contributions from public bodies (or those advising public bodies) and civil society representatives. 

Presented in partnership with Legal Action Group (LAG) and 39 Essex Chambers.

All webinars will be recorded for delegates to catch up with at their leisure.

This training is for:

• Decision makers at public bodies, and those supporting them
• Civil society groups aiming to influence or challenge public decision-making;
• Lawyers involved in public body decision-making;
• Decisions makers in private bodies, where the relevant law applies, or where you wish to maintain high standards of fair decision making.  

Ticket pricing:

• Standard: £160 – for public bodies, private practice
• Discounted: £120 – for civil society organisations
• Advisers: £60 – for those giving advice to clients but are not qualified as solicitors or barristers. 
• Reduced: £40 – for smaller organsations (e.g. turnover below £250k)
• Student: £20 –  for students with valid university email address
• Free upon request – for campaigners, lay or voluntary advisers with no training budget.

Event background

The training is based on the book Making Lawful Decisions: a guide for decision-makers on acting within the law by Steve Broach KC and Victoria Butler-Cole KC at 39 Essex Chambers.

It is not required to have a copy to attend this event, though those attending will be offered a significant discount on purchasing copies of the book – book now and get a discount code!

Webinar 1: Preparation & Hearings - Tuesday 21 April, 11:00 - 13:00

11:00 - 11:10 Introduction by Steve Broach KC, 39 Essex Chambers

11:10 - 12:00 Part 1: Preparation 

This session will take you through a checklist and your preparation towards making a lawful decision. The speakers will go through the topics, including whether a hearing is necessary, appropriate consultation, bias, conflicts of interest, notice, data protection, confidentiality, disclosure/Duty of Candour, and end with a quiz!

• Chair: Hannah Moxsom, Public Law Project
• Ruth Keating, 39 Essex Chambers
• Mike Hyden, Homelessness Best Practice
• Kerry Short, Invicta Law

12:00 - 12:10 Break

12:10 - 13:00 Part 2: Hearings

What you need to know about deciding on the need for, and organising, a hearing, and ways to ensure that both statutory and non-statutory hearings are fair and lawful, including holding an oral hearing, additional support, representation, evidence and witnesses, accessibility, virtual hearings and adjournments.

• Chair: Clare Cruise, Southwark Law Centre
• Eleanor Leydon and Jack Anderson, 39 Essex Chambers
• Sabrina Dixon, SIRG London
  More speakers TBC

Webinar 2: Complying with the Equality Act 2010 - Thursday 23 April, 11:00 - 12:30

Decision-makers in both the public and private sectors must avoid unlawful discrimination, and it is often difficult to identify where and how this occurs. This session will guide you through making decisions which avoid unlawful discrimination, by understanding: Protected characteristics, Prohibited conduct (what is discrimination and when does it happen), Advancement of equality and The Public Sector Equality Duty.

• Chair: Svetlana Kotova, Inclusion London
• Stephanie David, 39 Essex Chambers
• Helen Flynn, Just Fair
• Laura Murtagh, Falkirk Council
  More speakers TBC

Webinar 3: Complying with the Human Rights Act 1998 - Tuesday 28 April, 11:00 - 12:30

The Human Rights Act (HRA) 1998 incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into domestic law. It applies to the acts of public authorities and to bodies considered to be ‘undertaking a public function’. This can include everything from care homes providing services for local authorities to universities, panels and appeals bodies set up to make decisions.

The session will provide an overview on The HRA 1998 and who it applies to, The Convention rights, Key Convention concepts, Key ECHR Articles, Demonstrating compliance with the HRA 1998, Complying with the HRA 1998: A checklist and practical examples.

• Chair:Victoria Pogge von Strandmann, Public Law Project
• Camille Ivinson, Access Social Care
• Steve Broach KC, 39 Essex Chambers
• Abigail Hamer, Equality and Human Rights Commission

Webinar 4: Making a decision and remedies - Thursday 30 April, 11:00 - 12:30

This session summarises the legal principles applying to decision making in public bodies and looks at further remedies available should this process not satisfy those affected by a decision they believe to be unfair, unlawful or wrong. Special consideration will be given to ‘rationality’ and where decisions may be called ‘irrational’ due to process flaws, considering or ignoring relevant information, failure to support reasoning, and logical and methodological error.

• Chair: Lee Marsons, Public Law Project
• Katherine Apps KC, 39 Essex Chambers
• Sara Lomri, Ofsted
• Rebecca Hilsenrath KC (Hon), PHSO
• More speakers TBC