A South West family law firm has been awarded a contract to provide legal aid services in Cornwall.
The Family Law Company, which has an office Truro, will provide vulnerable people in the local community with access to justice. In the South West, 7,250 legal aid applications for civil representation, which includes family cases, were made from April 2021 to March 2022.
Director of The Family Law Company, Lucy Theobald said: "While there are around 10 law firms offering legal aid services for family in the county, this is sadly just not enough, so we are delighted to be added to the list of providers.
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"Legal aid is central to the ethos of the company and something we're committed to continuing to provide, even while many law firms are now turning away from this type of work. Being awarded this contract means we can make sure people in Cornwall can access legal services and get the professional help they need."
While legal aid support has been cut over the years, it is still available for people who meet certain eligibility criteria, such as those experiencing domestic abuse, or those on very low incomes who are struggling with serious problems.
Lucy added: "If people are in doubt about their eligibility, we can quickly help to ascertain whether or not they can apply, and if they aren't eligible, we can discuss other affordable options that could help them with their family issues."
In order to provide these services, law firms must bid for a contract with the Legal Aid Agency, which commissions and administers legal aid in England and Wales. The Family Law Company, which also has offices in Exeter and Plymouth, has been delivering legal aid services since it was founded in 1991.
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