Human Rights Legal Services in Glasgow
At Norman Lawson & Co., we provide specialist human rights legal services to clients seeking to protect their fundamental rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Our solicitors have extensive experience in advising on human rights claims, representing clients before tribunals and courts, and making applications to the Home Office under human rights law.
We understand that human rights cases often involve deeply personal and sensitive matters. We provide compassionate, expert legal advice to help you understand your rights and the options available to you.
Article 8 ECHR – Right to Private and Family Life
Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights protects the right to respect for private and family life. This is one of the most important provisions in human rights law and applies to a wide range of situations, including immigration cases where individuals seek to remain in the UK with their families.
Common Article 8 scenarios include:
- Family Life – Applications to remain in the UK to live with a spouse, partner, or children
- Private Life – Cases where individuals have established a private life in the UK, including work, education, friendships, and community ties
- Home Office Applications – Making applications to the Home Office arguing that deportation or removal would breach Article 8 rights
- Proportionality Assessments – Arguing that interference with family or private life is not proportionate to the immigration aim
- Best Interests of Children – Cases involving dependent children and the best interests assessment required in immigration cases
Article 3 ECHR – Protection from Torture and Inhuman Treatment
Article 3 of the ECHR prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. This is an absolute right that cannot be restricted under any circumstances. We represent clients facing removal or deportation where there is a real risk of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment in their country of return.
Article 3 claims may arise in cases involving:
- Risk of torture or persecution by state or non-state actors
- Inadequate medical facilities or healthcare access
- Conditions amounting to inhuman or degrading treatment
- Specific vulnerabilities including victims of trafficking, torture survivors, and individuals with serious medical conditions
Applications to the Home Office Under Human Rights Law
We prepare and submit human rights applications to the Home Office, including applications under Article 8 ECHR for individuals who do not have an immigration right to remain but may have grounds based on their human rights. These applications require careful preparation, detailed factual evidence, and expert legal argument.
Our approach includes gathering supporting evidence, preparing detailed statements, obtaining character references, and presenting compelling legal submissions that set out why removal would breach human rights law.
Representation Before Tribunals and Courts
If human rights issues arise in immigration appeals, we can represent you before the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal. We also handle judicial review cases where Home Office decisions are said to breach human rights law or have been made unlawfully.
Our experience includes:
- Presenting human rights evidence and arguments at tribunal hearings
- Cross-examining Home Office witnesses on human rights issues
- Drafting grounds for judicial review challenging human rights breaches
- Appearing before the courts in human rights cases
- Appeals on points of law involving human rights law
Human Rights and Immigration
Human rights law intersects with immigration law in many ways. Many immigration decisions may engage human rights protections, and we advise clients on how human rights considerations affect their immigration options. In some cases, human rights claims may provide a route to remain in the UK even where there is no immigration right to do so.
We provide integrated advice on immigration and human rights issues, ensuring that all available legal options are explored to achieve the best possible outcome.
Legal Aid
We are registered with the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) and can assist clients who qualify for legal aid funding. Human rights cases, particularly those involving vulnerable individuals or high-risk situations, may be eligible for legal aid. We also accept private fee-paying instructions.