Using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 1-2

This two-part practical course will guide you through the basics of freedom of information legislation and equip you with the skills necessary to make successful information requests and appeals.

FOIA 1: In this session, Jenna will talk you through how to draft effective FOIA requests, and will share her top tips and tricks. She will also provide an overview of accessing information under the Environmental Information Regulations and Data Protection legislation.

FOIA 2: In this session, Jenna will discuss the most common obstacles that you may encounter when submitting FOI requests, as well as how to challenge them. She will also discuss strategies when appealing against public authorities’ decisions and taking challenges to the tribunal.

“I’ve never submitted an FOI request so I liked how the course showed me from start to finish how it works. It was also incredibly useful to hear about the potential pitfalls and what to do to appeal.”
Feedback 2020

“Jenna is really the Queen of FOIA and it shows. I really appreciated that she shared her knowledge with us.”
Feedback 2021

Please note that this course has a specific focus on UK FOI law and is unable to address the legislation in other national contexts in any great detail.

See also: You Gotta Fight for Your Right… To Information – Thu 26 June.

27 June 2025 – Using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 1-2

14:50–15:50

FOIA 1: How to Draft Effective FOIA Requests

16:10–17:10

FOIA 2: The Most Common Obstacles

Jenna Corderoy

Jenna Corderoy is an investigative reporter for Democracy for Sale, a newsletter dedicated to revealing how dark money and hidden influence threaten our democracy. She specialises in obtaining documents under the Freedom of Information Act, and has brought several successful FOIA challenges at tribunal.

27 June 2025 14.50–17.10

Location: LG01

Course

All levels

Freedom of Information

26 June 2025

You Gotta Fight for Your Right… To Information

Freedom of Information laws in the UK are 25 years old—but using them has never been tougher. In this panel discussion, Peter Geoghegan, Lucas Amin and Jenna Corderoy from Democracy for Sale share hard-won lessons from their award-winning investigations into government secrecy.

FOIA without the Lawyer

by Brendan Montague and Lucas Amin

The Freedom of Information Act is an excellent journalistic tool that offers access to information held by more than 100,000 public bodies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In FOIA without the Lawyer, the authors share the methodology they have developed while running The Request Initiative and making requests on behalf of charities, NGOs and campaigning groups.

£7 Buy Handbook

EIRs without the Lawyer

by Lucas Amin and Brendan Montague

Human beings depend on the environment for their survival. Industrialisation and development, for all their benefits, have led to the neglect, damage and destruction of the environment all over the world.

£5 Buy Handbook