Changes to legal services 'not very useful'

Changes to legal services are not considered beneficial by one expert, who notes surviving family law provision is likely to be of little practical use.

Dr Brigitte Clark, senior lecturer in law at the University of East Anglia, argues the legal help offered in divorce cases where no domestic violence is present - mediation - is of negligible relevance in the majority of cases, pointing out: "Only seven per cent of divorces are contested anyway."

Legal services cutbacks mean this is now the only legal help on offer for the majority, but the expert maintains the seven per cent who do wish to dispute the case "will be those with big money" saying most of the debate will centre on asset distribution and offspring.

Last week, the Ministry of Justice revealed private family law cases will no longer qualify for free legal help, arguing divorce and child contact disputes often impact negatively upon the youngsters and may not be resolved satisfactorily.

Published by Phil Hammond