FamilyLawHour It should not be mandatory. But discussing shuttle or hybrid mediation is sensible to try and reduce costs.

FamilyLawHour No, firms will often be required to front load LSPO applications incurring significant costs before a decision is made about interim funding, with a risk that historic costs won’t be covered.

FamilyLawHour Absolutely not. The hurdles to evidence DV in order to obtain legal aid are ridiculous. And even when you secure legal aid, you will not often find experienced barristers willing to take on the case due to the paltry FAS rates for such cases.

FamilyLawHour The legal aid system is not fit for service.

POLL: Do you feel the financial remedy process is used / weaponised to perpetuate domestic abuse against victim survivors? #familylawhour

FamilyLawHour This is a tricky one. Especially with FM5 sanctions being used for non-engagement. My instinct is that there should be a DA exemption, but there are plenty of ways that parties can be protected and still attempt settlement before the court

FamilyLawHour Also, I find it remarkable it is possible for potential perpetrators of abuse living outside of the jurisdiction of England can obtain non-means and non-merits tested legal aid under rights of access under Hague, but a victim living in the UK will have to meet the huge hurdles.

FamilyLawHour Not always but it certainly can be.

Patricia Beckett FamilyLawHour I didn't realise there was a problem with barristers but I know survivors have enormous difficulty in finding a solicitor to take them on. And it's pretty impossible when they want to change solicitor.

Hunters Family Team FamilyLawHour The additional costs however can be a barrier.

Diana Jordan FamilyLawHour I recall one case where we called 21 sets of chambers. We were only offered pupils.

FamilyLawHour I think it’s only a matter of time before Churchill is developed to include FPR and mandatory stays for NCDR are available to the court

FamilyLawHour The law on LSPOs requires statutory reform as well as a change in judicial approach. Pound for pound orders do not work in cases with economic abuse. It takes a lot more work to chase disclosure than it does to withhold it!

Raj Patel FamilyLawHour Agreed. Providers can’t take as many cases as they used to as it’s not financially viable. The rates must go up now.

FamilyLawHour No not at all

Patricia Beckett FamilyLawHour They should make it that every single firm offering family law service should have to taken on a certain amount of legal aid work each year.

Lisa Burton-Durham FamilyLawHour This is exactly right and sometimes the abuse is worst thru the proceedings

Raj Patel FamilyLawHour Not sure that would work. I’ve heard talk of a city firm levy to support the legal aid system. Properly funding the system is the only solution.

Thank you to Anita Mehta and Olivia Piercy members of the Resolution Economic Abuse Working Party for hosting and Patricia Beckett, Hunters Family Team, Lisa Burton-Durham, Supriya McKenna, TLT Family and Private Wealth, Raj Patel, Sarah-Jane Riddell, Diana Jordan, @gemlegal, Gareth Evans, Sally