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Civil Liberties & Human Rights

Equality & Unlawful Discrimination Lawyers

Susie-Labinjoh-2
Susie Labinjoh
Partner
Claire Brigham
Claire Brigham
Partner
Cormac McDonough
Cormac McDonough
Partner
Jocelyn Cockburn
Jocelyn Cockburn
Partner
Maria O'Connell
Maria O’Connell
Partner
Sasha Barton
Sasha Barton
Partner
Alisha McSporran
Paralegal
Aniqa Khan
Paralegal
Aston Luff
Aston Luff
Solicitor
Brid Doherty
Bríd Doherty
Associate
Charlotte Sykes
Charlotte Sykes
Solicitor
Darcey Hayes
Paralegal
Gimhani Eriyagolla
Gimhani Eriyagolla
Associate
Guy Mitchell
Guy Mitchell
Solicitor
Isabelle Robson
Isabelle Robson
Paralegal
Lottie Baldwin
Lottie Baldwin
Solicitor
Megan Finnis
Megan Finnis
Solicitor
Olivia Coffey
Olivia Coffey
Senior Associate
Rebecca Shotton
Rebecca Shotton
Solicitor
Ronan Stewart
Rónán Stewart
Trainee
Ruth Waters-Falk
Ruth Waters-Falk
Solicitor
Sabrina Pinto_Website
Sabrina Pinto
Paralegal
Sarah Flanagan
Sarah Flanagan
Associate
Sebastian Del Monte
Sebastian Del Monte
Solicitor
Shakti Bhagwansingh
Shakti Bhagwansingh
Solicitor
Sion Morgan
Sion Morgan
Solicitor
Stephen Hare
Stephen Hare
Paralegal

We specialise in helping those who’ve faced unlawful discrimination to get justice.

Our Civil Liberties & Human Rights team have the skills and experience to help with discrimination claims or challenges against service providers and public bodies.

It is unlawful to discriminate against someone because of a protected characteristic.

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Legal 500 UK - Top Tier Firm-2025

What is a protected characteristic?

Protected characteristics are those which are defined under The Equality Act 2010. These are:

  • Race
  • Age
  • Gender reassignment
  • Disability
  • Being married or in a civil partnership
  • Being pregnant or on maternity leave
  • Religion or belief
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation

"THE KNOWLEDGE AND PROFESSIONALISM THEY BOUGHT, WITHOUT A DOUBT, GOT US THE OUTCOME OUR DAUGHTER DESERVED."

"WE CAN'T EXPRESS HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE TO HJA...WITHOUT THEM ANSWERS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REACHED AND WE WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN THE TRUTH."

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Why choose Hodge Jones & Allen?

Compassionate solicitors

We understand how difficult it is to come forward and talk about what has happened, particularly for people who have been humiliated and upset by their treatment. We’re experienced at providing support and advice every step of the way.

It’s unlawful to discriminate against someone because of a protected characteristic. For example, the police cannot stop and search someone simply because he is a young, black male; there must be an objective reason.

It’s also unlawful to treat someone the same when they need to be treated differently because of their protected characteristic. For example, it may be unlawful to refuse to provide a lift, if that prevents disabled people from accessing facilities.

It’s unlawful to victimise someone because they’ve complained of discrimination.

Public bodies also have to take active steps to promote equality, prevent discrimination and promote good relations between different groups. It’s unlawful for those bodies to fail to have regard to this duty when carrying out their activities.

Highly experienced

Our Civil Liberties team has a long history of successful challenges brought on behalf of people who have suffered unlawful discrimination. If you’ve been discriminated against, we will assist you in getting financial compensation and, in certain cases, in getting public bodies to change their decisions or policies to avoid continuing discrimination.

Legal knowledge

Our team knows the legal complexities of these cases. They have experience in challenging all bodies, from local authorities and the police to government departments and private companies. We know how daunting it is for an individual to take on a large institution and we’re here to support you throughout.

Independently recognised as leaders in the field

We’re top-ranked in Chambers UK for Police Law and also ranked for Civil Liberties & Human Rights and Administrative & Public Law. We’re also ranked in Legal 500 for Civil Liberties & Human Rights and Administrative and Public Law.

“They have really made their mark in this field.”Chambers UK, 2025

“HJA combines one of the strongest reputations for civil liberties work of any UK firm with an outstanding client service in every single case I have worked with the firm over many years”Legal 500, 2025

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What to do if you wish to bring a claim for discrimination

Contact our team

Our team of highly experienced human rights solicitors will provide you with the help and advice you need. Contact us by telephone or through our online form to seek advice from our specialist team.

We’ll review your case

Once we have the information we need we’ll carry out a case review and contact you to tell you if we can assist you with your case. If we’re able to help we’ll arrange a time to meet to discuss what you wish to achieve in greater detail.

We’ll help you find the best resolution

One of our specialist solicitors will help you find the best possible resolution.

Get in touch with us today on
0330 822 3451
or request a call back.
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Featured cases

Our cases include:

  • Successfully challenging the police for stopping and searching people due to their race.
  • Taking action against the prison service for failing to protect a homosexual prisoner from assault by homophobic inmates.
  • Suing an immigration detention centre for racial discrimination.
  • Getting a school to apologise and train staff after it excluded a pupil suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder for reasons connected with his disability.

“YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW, YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TO FIGHT A CASE LIKE OURS, YOUR KINDNESS TO US ON A PERSONAL LEVEL AND YOUR STEADFAST APPROACH IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET”.

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"I felt I could trust my lawyer, and felt confident about the discussion we made on the case. In the end the result was a good one."