Leading solicitors offering best advice in new legal landscape
One of Leicestershire’s top law firms says it is 100 per cent ready to help those going through marriage or relationship breakdown in the light of recent sweeping legal changes
Kathryn Hicklin, a partner at QualitySolicitors Mander Cruickshank, said changes surrounding family law which took place at the start of April has radically altered the legal landscape.
Under the changes many people involved in marriage or relationship breakdowns or needing assistance with children disputes and other areas of family law will no longer be able to obtain legal aid.
She said: “The changes have caused some consternation in how to deal with them, but here at QualitySolicitors Mander Cruickshank we have acted quickly to tailor our services to provide maximum reassurance for the public.
“The message is we are 100 per cent ready to help provide both the best advice and the most cost effective solutions for those involved in family issues,” added Ms Hicklin, whose firm have offices in both Coalville and Hinckley.
“We have fixed rate divorce packages and other help to make sure we are still positioned as the leading family law department in this region,” she added.
The new legislation has cut £350m from the £2.2bn legal aid scheme by removing entire areas of law from public funding/legal aid, including all family advice. Previously, where there was a disparity in wealth between spouses involved in a divorce, state-funded legal advice could provide equality. Now the legal aid bill will limit public funds for legal advice at the end of a relationship to only those cases which involve domestic abuse.
Ms Hicklin, said despite recent publicity nationwide QualitySolicitors Mander Cruickshank was concerned at the public’s lack of awareness.
“Unless these changes are on people’s radars it is the sort of news which can easily go unnoticed,” she said.
“One area of law where public funding/legal aid will still be available is in relation to care proceedings (children taken into care). We have a highly experienced team which includes the impressive statistic of three solicitors on the Law Society Children Panel – a body overseeing best practice in child care law,” she added.
“It is a time of great change, but whatever legal issues the people of the community have, we are well placed to aid them.”
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