Legal Aid Domestic Violence Test

http://www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/pdfs/Policy/Evidencing_dv_the _facts.pdf


"The Government has committed to retain legal aid for domestic violence victims in
private family law matters. Yet research conducted by Rights of Women and Welsh
Women’s Aid shows that at least 46% of domestic violence victims will not be eligible for legal aid because of the dangerously restrictive forms of evidence that they will be required to produce.
This research demonstrates incontrovertibly that if the Government is to stand by its
commitment to ensure that legal aid is retained for domestic violence victims in
private family law proceedings, the domestic violence gateway criteria must be
widened to better reflect the range of routes that women take to safety and the kind of evidence they might have. This must include evidence from specialist domestic
violence organisations, health services and social services."

i was a victim and have evidence, how do i go about getting legal aid as i have already spent 5k on legal fees

Check out if you are eligible for legal aid on the calculator;

http://legalaidcalculator.justice.gov.uk/calculators/eligiCal c; jsessionid=D793425A6A5963EE8B50BCA20B0EE0F7?execution=e1s1

If you are eligible you will need to find a solicitor who does legal aid work. Resolution, the family lawyers' organisation has a data­base­ where you can find a legal aid solicitor near you.

thank you again x

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/feb/02/legal-aid-bill-conc essions

"Another contentious area of the bill is the definition of domestic violence that would entitle victims to claim legal aid. Djanogly said he did not believe that the bill's definition was essentially different to that used by the Association of Chief Police Officers. "I don't think there's a difference and if there's a way of making people [accept that] I hope we will be able to go with that." "