Great Britain has a long history of anti-discrimination law. Current laws regarding to this topic are the Equality Acts 2006 and 2010. The Equality Act 2006 specifically allows associations to support a suit. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in Great Britain is an independent equality body. Its tasks and rights are regulated in the Equality Act 2006. The EHRC must ensure that British equality laws are respected and can also take legal action. The different procedural laws include the right to provide legal assistance, to file a suit on one’s own behalf and to participate in a discrimination procedure as a third-party.

In section 28-1 of the Equality Act 2006 the EHRC gets the power to offer individual plaintiffs legal assistance if the dispute lays within the scope of the Equality Act 2010. According to section 28-4 of the Equality Act 2006, this means that the EHRC may give legal advice, may legally represent plaintiffs, may find extrajudicial solutions, and may offer any type of help.  

The possibilities to file a suit by oneself and to be active as a third-party are regulated in section 30-1 of the Equality Act 2006. The EHRC is allowed to go to court and initiate a legal examination if a public establishment acted in a way that violates the Equality Act 2010. This possibility exists as long as a subject of review is given that falls into the area of responsibility of the EHRC and that is regulated in the Equality Act 2006. Furthermore, the so called “third-party intervention”, the possibility of third-party participation in the procedure, is regulated in this section. This is also called an Amicus Curiae letter (Letter from a friend of the court). A third-party can bring their legal opinions and legal analysis to the court but are not part of the procedure. These letters serve as an exchange of legal arguments and less as moral support of the complaining parties. In terms of suits that are brought to court by another plaintiff, the EHRC is allowed to submit independent proof and legal analyses regarding to the disputed topic if an approval exists. These legal analyses are the focus of amicus curiae letters, rather than legal support for the plaintiff.