Access to justice in family cases

Sarah Higgins Charles Russell Speechlys

Access to justice in family cases – this article gives details about the decline in legal aid for family work since the Legal Aid Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. This decline has resulted in the increase in litigants in person which has had the effect of increasing delays in the court system. Denying access to justice to those caught up in family cases not only adversely affects the parties but is harmful to children and to the court system as a whole. There are efforts which are designed to assist.  There is a mediation voucher scheme which enables some parties to have a contribution towards mediation costs which may help them to resolve their issues and keep out of court. There are a number of pro bono efforts for instance legal advice clinics the bar Advocate scheme Support through Court for non legal advice and pro bono practices in solicitors firms. However pro bono assistance and legal aid firms are not evenly spread throughout the country.  Firms with pro bono professionals and family teams...

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