Family law firm offers extended legal support

8th May 2011

Bradford-based Williscroft & Co Solicitors is extending its support services to families needing legal help.

The all-female partner team is launching a “diagnostic consultation” service on 1^st July 2011 for people needing more detailed advice and strategies for managing difficult family issues.

The move comes in preparation for the Government’s proposed legal aid cuts which means fewer people will have access to publicly-funded legal support.

“Around 75% of our clients require legal aid to access our services so we need to make sure that if the Government cuts do take place we have a means of continuing to support families who are otherwise unable to access legal help,” explains Williscroft & Co partner Lucy Cohen.

“Many legal firms offer free half hour consultations to give clients a taster of the support they need to pursue their case but it’s usually with a view to a longer term, paid for service – which is fine if legal aid is available. If not, we want to offer a much fuller consultation including a written strategy for how the client can resolve their situation, at a fraction of the cost of the equivalent solicitor’s fee.”

Based in Little Germany, Bradford, Williscroft & Co has been established for almost 25 years and includes a staff of 30 which specialises in the emotive areas of family, education, child, housing and benefit law, supporting some of the region’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged families.

Each of the four Williscroft partners June Kelly, Lindsey Johnson, Stephanie Adams and Lucy Cohen, is actively campaigning against the Government’s plans to cut the legal aid budget – a proposition which could impact over half a million people across the UK.

“The diagnostic consultation is a new way of developing our support services for people needing professional advice but without the means of paying for full legal representation, “Lucy continues.

“We are desperately fighting to retain as much of the legal aid budget as we can for our clients, but recognise our service and responsibilities to the families we represent must develop if the proposed changes go ahead.”

For more information on the Williscroft diagnostic consultation which is £135 plus vat is for a one hour appointment, advice confirmed in writing, provision of helpful guides to assist in resolving matters with minimal legal fees, contact Williscroft & Co on 01274 305380.