Court help desk set up for unrepresented people

A help desk offering free support to people attending court without legal representation has been set up by Sheffield's universities.

Students from Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield will receive training to help people navigate court procedures.

According to the universities, the initiative was prompted by the growing number of litigants in person - people who attend court without legal representation.

Dr Goldie Millan, supervising solicitor and senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, said: "The Sheffield Court Help Desk aims to provide a welcoming point of assistance and guidance, helping court users feel more informed and better prepared."

According to the Law Society, the number of litigants in person in court has risen over the past decade.

This is in part due to changes to legal aid eligibility in England and Wales made under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.

Since the legislation came into effect in 2013, legal aid has not been available for civil matters such as private family law.

As part of the Sheffield Court Help Desk, students will train to act as "McKenzie friends", who help people navigate court procedures and understand court documentation.

"For many people, attending court can be a daunting and confusing experience, particularly without professional legal representation," Millan said.

"This partnership will enable our students to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting while supporting people who may otherwise find the court process overwhelming."

While the help desk will not give legal advice, it will offer free support to people who cannot afford representation but do not meet the eligibility criteria for legal aid, as well as those who chose to represent themselves.

Sarah Faraj, 20, a law student at Sheffield Hallam University, has recently trained to become a McKenzie friend.

"Not everyone who goes to court has an idea about how it works and what they might expect. So we can help them understand that," she said.

"We also have to recognise that visiting court is a really emotional experience, and we actively listen and show empathy."

A Law Society spokesperson said: "We support and promote the contribution of solicitors undertaking pro bono work, along with the Law School initiatives.

"But pro bono is no substitute for a properly funded legal aid system, which supports us in times of need.

"Pro bono should complement publicly funded legal services and not be relied upon to fill gaps caused by underfunding."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: "Access to justice is vital, and we spent £854m on family legal aid last year.

"While Sheffield currently has twelve family and three housing legal aid providers, we know there is more to do to ensure people can access the support they need.

"That's why we continue to invest in legal support services and actively monitor the legal aid market."

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