From Luke’s Place:
In 2024, Luke’s Place heard from frontline workers across Ontario about their experiences supporting survivors in family court and helping them find a lawyer. A total of 104 frontline workers responded to our online survey, and 24 workers participated in our focus groups. What they heard from nearly all these workers was how challenging it is for survivors to find a family law lawyer to represent them.
Earlier this year, Luke’s Place released their report Navigating Family Court Alone: Barriers and Gaps in Representation for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in Ontario. This report outlines key findings from this research and set out 19 recommendations for change. These recommendations are directed at the provincial government, Legal Aid Ontario, and the Law Society of Ontario. They call for:
- Raising Legal Aid financial eligibility thresholds
- Expanding certificate coverage and hours for IPV cases
- Increasing the availability of lawyers who accept Legal Aid
- Strengthening IPV-informed training and standards within the legal profession
- Addressing systemic barriers that leave survivors unrepresented
Survivors of IPV deserve meaningful access to justice. Ensuring access to competent, trauma-informed legal representation is not an option; it is foundational to safety, fairness, and accountability within the family justice system. You can read more on the Luke’s Place blog and access the full report here
ABOUT LUKE’S PLACE
The only stand-alone family law support centre of excellence for abused women in Canada, Luke’s Place provides direct services to hundreds of women and their children in Durham Region every year. Luke’s Place is an award-winning non-profit organization solely devoted to improving the safety and experience of women and their children as they proceed through the family law process after fleeing an abusive relationship.
Comments are closed