Administrative law governs the actions of government agencies, the bodies that carry out and enforce the day-to-day work of government. Agencies regulate a vast range of activities, and administrative law sets the rules for how they may act and how their decisions can be reviewed.
This area covers how agencies create regulations, conduct investigations, grant or deny licenses and permits, decide eligibility for benefits, and impose penalties. It also covers the processes by which people and businesses can challenge agency decisions, often through internal hearings before an agency before any court becomes involved.
Key concepts a non-lawyer should understand include the idea that agencies must generally act within the authority granted to them and follow fair procedures; that affected parties usually have a right to notice and an opportunity to be heard; and the principle of 'exhausting administrative remedies,' meaning a person ordinarily must complete the agency's own appeal process before asking a court to step in. Courts then review agency decisions under specific standards rather than simply deciding the matter fresh.
People and businesses typically consult an administrative law attorney when an agency denies a license, permit, or benefit, when they face an agency investigation or penalty, when a new regulation significantly affects them, or when they need to appeal an agency decision. Legal guidance helps navigate these specialized procedures.
