Public Law Project

Who we are

Public Law Project (PLP) is a national legal charity founded in 1990 with the aim of improving access to justice. We are specialist lawyers, researchers, trainers, and policy experts. Our work in England and Wales improves public decision-making, empowers people to understand and apply the law, and increases access to justice.

We conduct research, provide advice, deliver training and legal education, respond to policy and legislative proposals, and act for clients. Our clients are individuals affected by unfair or unlawful policies or decision-making, other charities, law firms, and non-governmental organisations representing the interests of marginalised communities. Wherever appropriate, we seek to maximise impact by bringing cases which can effect systemic change.

We produce a wide-ranging programme of public law conferences and training, attracting delegates from the judiciary to campaigners and students. We publish accessible guides to improve awareness, understanding and use of administrative and public law in our jurisdiction. We also undertake and publish empirical research, working with academics across a range of disciplines, and advocate on policy issues affecting access to justice.

Our culture and values

We have all faced challenges to maintaining a positive outlook in recent times and this is particularly acute for our staff who spend their work life fighting some of the worst examples of unfairness and hardship in our society. We believe that within PLP positivity is both a product of and catalyst for a healthy and productive work culture

COMMUNITY: We consciously foster a sense of belonging at PLP for all staff by providing opportunities for connection between colleagues inside and out of formal team structures and by intentionally celebrating our wins.

MANAGERS: We develop a framework of support and training for current and aspiring managers to share good practice and recognise the importance of our managers to our productivity and wellbeing.

WELLBEING: We continually improve the holistic support we offer for staff wellbeing whilst maintaining our commitment to providing a psychologically  safe working environment for every colleague.

CAPACITY: We sre working to ensure that we have the planning and resources necessary to deliver our strategy and improve our understanding of the relationship between capacity and wellbeing.

CONNECTIVITY AND FLEXIBILITY: We continue to offer staff the flexibility to choose when and where they work within the needs of their role and the charity. We will ensure our IT systems are optimised for hybrid working and online collaboration. We will also invest in our office as a community hub which also provides all staff access to an excellent working environment.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

We are committed to eliminating unlawful discrimination and to promoting equality and diversity within our policies, practices, and procedures. This applies to our professional dealings with staff, trustees, volunteers, clients, partners, other lawyers, experts and third parties. 

We take all reasonable steps to ensure that we and our staff do not unlawfully discriminate under the terms of any legislation in force from time to time relating to discrimination in employment and the provision of goods, facilities, or services.  

We make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled employees or clients are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to those who are not disabled, and we do not pass on the costs of these adjustments to these disabled clients, employees, trustees or managers.  PLP has put in place a disability access policy to ensure that, as far as reasonably possible staff, trustees, volunteers and clients are not disadvantaged due the accessibility of the building.  

PLP recognises that all forms of discrimination, harassment and victimisation are unacceptable, regardless of whether or not the actions are carried out deliberately. We take all reasonable steps to ensure that our employees, volunteers, and trustees comply with the Equality Act 2010, both in relation to PLP as a workplace and as provider of services.