Section 1: Identify the Human Rights Issue
Determine the violation type (torture, arbitrary detention, expression, religion, women's rights, LGBT rights, HR defenders, state violence), whether Article 3 deportation risk is engaged, and which treaty standards apply (ICCPR, CAT, CEDAW, ECHR).
Section 2: Confirm Treaty Standards and Violation Type
Human rights experts apply ICCPR, CAT, CEDAW, ICERD, and ECHR standards to assess violation severity and return risk for the appellant's profile. Identify whether Article 3 deportation risk, torture analysis, or a specific violation category is the primary focus of the instruction.
Section 3: Legal Aid or Privately Funded?
Human rights expert reports are Legal Aid compatible. Obtain prior authority for expert fees in accordance with LAA guidance. Privately funded instructions follow the same report standards and timelines.
Section 4: Letter of Instruction
Follow the Adam Pipe October 2025 guide: identify proceedings, funding, specific questions, appellant profile, documents provided, and deadline. Focus questions on human rights standards and return risk within Practice Direction 2024 page limits.
Section 5: Documents to Provide
Provide witness statements, Home Office decision and reasons, CPIN, medical reports, previous expert reports, relevant policy documentation, and tribunal directions. A complete document bundle improves report quality and tribunal acceptance.
Section 6: Report and Written Questions
Standard reports require 2 to 3 weeks. The expert will serve a report addressing the letter of instruction questions. Written questions may follow under tribunal directions. The expert must maintain independence throughout.
Section 7: Oral Evidence if Directed
The tribunal may direct oral evidence from the human rights expert, particularly in Upper Tribunal appeals and complex Article 3 cases. Experts should be prepared to defend their methodology and return risk opinion under cross-examination.