Hi, I’m Robyn and I am a Trainee Solicitor here at Barker Booth and Eastwood. I have just finished my first year as a trainee within the family law department.
Reflecting on my first year gaining experience within the Family Department, one of my favourite aspects of my role is being able to support victims of domestic abuse and their children.
Domestic Abuse
Barker Booth and Eastwood have a close working relationship with Fylde Coast Women’s Aid (FCWA) who are specialist providers of refuge and support services for victims of domestic abuse on the Fylde Coast.
It is often a misconception that domestic abuse only covers physical violence. However, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognises domestic abuse as consisting of physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic abuse and psychological, emotional or other abuse. It also does not matter whether the behaviour consists of a single incident or a pattern of behaviour.
Fylde Coast Women’s Aid AGM
A highlight of my first year was attending the FCWA AGM at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool, which was sponsored by Barker Booth and Eastwood. A guest speaker at the AGM was David Challen who successfully campaigned to free his mother, Sally Challen, in a landmark appeal which recognised the lifetime of coercive control she suffered.
Assisting Domestic Abuse Victims
Within my first year at Barker Booth and Eastwood, I have assisted victims of domestic abuse by providing advice and assistance in relation to obtaining:
- Non-Molestation Orders which protect victims and relevant children by preventing the respondent by behaving in a threatening, violent or harassing way towards them.
- Occupation Orders which can enforce who has a right to live in the home, who is excluded from it and can also regulate who can enter the property and its surrounding areas. They can also set out who shall pay the mortgage and other bills in connection to the home.
- Prohibited Steps Orders which, where there are children involved, can prohibit a parent from exercising some elements of their parental responsibility. Most commonly, Prohibited Steps Orders have been obtained to prevent a parent from removing the child from the other parent’s care or school/ nursery.
- Child Arrangements Orders which set out where and with whom a child shall live as well as who they shall spend time with. The Court explores all of the allegations of domestic abuse and other safeguarding concerns raised before moving onto consider what arrangements are safe and in the best interests of the child and primary carer.
Victims of domestic abuse may be entitled to legal aid depending on their capital and income means.
For more information on how we can assist, please contact me on rm@bbelaw.co.uk
