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Until we have a level playing field justice will remain a challenge
‘Until we have a level playing field justice in the family courts will remain a challenge. The system needs proper funding and we need fast action to implement ctitical changes highlighted in the Harm Panels review. This really cannot wait’ Victims of domestic abuse...
Beck Fitzgerald appoints two new Directors and five Associates
We are delighted to announce that we have invited Amy Woolfenden and Sarah Stace to become Directors of Beck Fitzgerald with immediate effect. Sarah will continue to lead and mentor in private client, finance and unmarried family cases and Amy will continue to head up...
The Problem with the nuts and bolts…
How process and procedure mitigate against fairness in cases involving coercive and controlling behaviour in the family courts. I want to take a few moments to give you my thoughts about how process and procedure (often way before cases arrive in court) inadvertently...
The Domestic Abuse Act
The Domestic Abuse Bill received royal ascent on the 29th April 2021 and will be implemented later this year. The Act brings in important changes, many of which have been received positively by the sector and will lead to important developments enabling practitioners...
Society needs zero tolerance for abuse of women and girls
Society needs zero tolerance for abuse of women and girls both on the streets and at home. Without hardwiring a change of attitude into education and putting proper resource into effective policies for change there will be no real change. Jenny discusses...
Beck Fitzgerald in the Court of Appeal
Beck Fitzgerald are proud to be representing two of the Appellants in the seminal case before the Court of Appeal, where the court are considering important issues concerning the treatment of domestic abuse in private law proceedings involving children...
Jenny Beck to become Honorary Queens Counsel (QC)
We are proud to announce that Jenny is to become an Honorary Queens Counsel (QC Honoris Causa) commencing March 2021. She has been awarded this honour to reflect her enormous contribution to the fight for access to justice over the past two decades. Her...
Two major breakthroughs for access to justice
Clients from Beck Fitzgerald have put themselves forward to help us challenge two particularly unfair rules in the application of the legal aid ‘means test’. Trapped capital The brilliant Public Law Project took this matter to judicial review regarding the...
Improving access to justice for survivors of domestic violence
Today, ‘Claire’ a single parent and domestic abuse survivor, has overturned the rules that prevented her from accessing legal aid. It is already widely acknowledged that today’s ruling will improve access to justice for more survivors of domestic violence who are in...
The current landscape of domestic abuse podcast
The start of lockdown saw a significant spike in domestic abuse across the country. Jenny recently featured in a podcast for the Law Society discussing the landscape of domestic abuse in light of the increase in cases including: the rights of victims legal...
Jenny Beck honoured for legal aid efforts during lockdown
Two Law Society committee members have been honoured for their efforts during the Covid-19 lockdown ahead of the first virtual legal aid ‘oscars’ ceremony. Winners of this year’s Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards will be revealed on Tuesday. The annual,...
Challenging the means rules preventing women accessing legal aid
Season 3 of the Family Law Week podcast is here - listen to the latest podcast with myself and Rachel Cooper from Coram Chambers. We discuss the current high court case through which the Public Law Project and Beck Fitzgerald are seeking to challenge to the financial...
Legal Challenge to the Legal aid DA means test
Yesterday the Public Law Project and Beck Fitzgerald Solicitors went to the high court to challenge the financial eligibility, or means rules that prevent so many women getting access to free legal support to protect themselves and their children from...
Domestic violence victim denied legal aid seeks judicial review
A victim of domestic violence, who is surviving on universal credit but has been denied legal aid in a battle to hold on to her home, is challenging strict regulations that could force her to cross-examine her former partner in court. The woman, known as...
Improving access to justice for victims of abuse
We have actively been involved in improving access to justice by widening the gateway criteria for victims of abuse to secure legal aid. We are actively working with government during Covid-19 to better provide for victims of abuse left even more...
Solicitor spends hours on a call for update on abuse injunctions
Solicitor spends hours in call queue for update on abuse injunctions Taken from the Law Society Gazette 22 April 2020 By Monidipa Fouzder A solicitor spent a total of two-and-a-half hours in one day waiting on the phone to the courts to get an update on two emergency...
Better protection for those at most risk
The reality is that domestic abuse during lockdown is reaching terrifying proportions. Murders have doubles and calls to helplines are up by over 700%. This will be the tip of the iceberg as the practical problems of lockdown with partners and children at...
Extended hours service for those most at risk
We remain deeply concerned about women who may be trapped at home in light of Covid-19 and may be at risk. We are offering extended hours so that we can provide a service up to 10pm every weekday evening in order to maximise access to help to those at...