Administrative law is a kind of anonymous law.  Rarely referred to or thought of outside of legal and government communities, in fact it is the law the regulates and controls much of both public and private authority that touches on much of our laws.

Much of what we do, what affects our lives and channels what we do in important areas of our lives is governed by authority.  The large part of this is governmental authority-federal, provincial, or municipal authorities or the agencies which they create and oversee.  Another part of this can be authorities of associations or groups that we involve ourselves in – unions, social organizations, religious and sports organizations.

The law that governs these authorities is called Administrative Law.  The bodies can be as simply and straight forward as residential tenancies boards, as human rights committees, unemployment insurance tribunals, professional governing bodies, trade unions or assessment courts.

All of these authorities have, at their core, a responsibility to ensure that their processes are conducted fairly, in accordance with the law and within the scope of the power that government has given them.

When it seems that they have not, when members of a professional discipline body have been disciplined, when an immigration official denies refugee status, when a municipality denies planning approval, the legal process that challenges these decisions in a higher tribunal or before a court is administrative.

Do you have a problem with a public authority that you think has treated you unfairly or failed to apply the law?  If so, it is administrative law that you will seek to invoke.