The limits of remote hearings - ensuring no one is left behind in quest for family justice.
Less than a fifth of vulnerable clients are well served by remote court hearings. A figure which gives us pause to consider how easy it is for us all to access justice in the UK.
The Law Society has stated in this article that coronavirus is having a disproportionate, unfair impact on vulnerable people, or those who rely heavily on the state.
This thoughtful piece has highlighted the rapid changes to accessing justice have not been scrutinised as much as usual. The COVIS-19 pandemic changes have shown into stark relief the impacts on vulnerable groups, including in family law.
The Law Society review also charts solicitors as having played an important role in supporting people facing difficult circumstances.
It has been suggested that vulnerable adult clients were not able to participate effectively in remote hearings. This included people with mental health issues, learning disabilities and language barriers, who are believed to be at a particular disadvantage. It could also be those without access to the technology or knowledge of how to use such technology best.
Simon Davis, president of the Law Society, said: ‘Emergency measures must be necessary, proportionate and any limitations on access to justice must be for as short a time as possible, balancing the need to contain the virus with ensuring that those who need legal advice or the protection of the court can obtain it.’