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Legal Assistance Service

In April 2009 The Legal Assistance Service developed and expanded with funding from the Big Lottery Reaching Communities Programme. Current funding covers three posts for three years in which time the team aims to improve relationships with stakeholders and offer intensive legal assistance to service users going through civil or criminal proceedings, in addition to sustaining this service longer term.

The primary role of the legal assistance team is to support women through the court process with both short and long term work. The service offers legal information and supports women to gain orders through the civil courts to help to keep them safe. If a woman is not eligible for free legal aid Staying Put can support her to apply for orders by representing herself at court. The legal assistance team also supports women at criminal court, before, during and just after the trial. As with all Staying Put's work, the emphasis is on keeping women safe. This includes taking measures to ensure safe arrival at court, safety whilst there by using side rooms, court security and witness care. We can also arrange different exits where appropriate.

The development work within the service enhances and builds links with agencies & service users, promoting Staying Put services and raising awareness of domestic abuse. We deliver training to other professional and promote service user engagement.

The legal assistance team works closely with other agencies including the Witness Care and Safeguarding Units, SDVC, solicitors, probation, support groups and other relevant agencies. We liaise to provide updates to women regarding their current situation as well as offering emotional support and referrals onto other agencies for more specialist and longer term support as appropriate to the needs of individual women.