Desperate and asking for pro-bono legal help

[Pleasecansomehelpme]

I truly can't believe it's come to this but here I am.

I need help but have no way to fund it.

My sister's son has disclosed his father has been sexually abusing him. This was 2 years ago. The police bungled the interviews, no prosecution.

The father is a complete narcissist and is now dragging my sister through the courts. After 4 hearings we have to go to fact finding which is 5 full days. We're already £17000 down on credit cards. We have no more money.

Please - if you are a family solicitor or barrister who can help keep my nephew safe and work for free I don't know how we'd repay you.

We just can't believe we've got here.

So sorry for begging. There just no other choice now.

[BubblesBuddy]

You could seek to appoint a very junior, junior barrister.They won’t cost a lot more than a McKenzie Friend and will be a lot better trained. Many Chambers have young barristers who have just qualified taking on this type of work.

[MaudAndOtherPoems]

I'm not a lawyer.

There are lots of McKenzie Friends advertising online. This article from a few years ago highlights the potential pros and cons of appointing one.

You would need to apply to the court in advance for permission to appoint a McKenzie Friend. This info from the court in Bristol explains. Some of the links at the bottom might also be useful.

[Pleasecansomehelpme]

I'm the OP under a new name and I'm hoping that someone who read this thread before might be able to give me a quick piece of advice.

We have had fact-finding and no findings were made and there now has to be an assessment by an independent social worker about whether contact is possible and whether my sister's parenting is suitable.

There is a directions hearing on Monday but we can't afford representation. My sister is very underconfident so I was wondering about either getting or being a McKenzie Friend for her.

Can someone advise me how to go about doing that? Do I need to apply to the court in advance? It's so hard just getting the information you need. Thanks in advance

[Oldie2017]

I don't know what adopting police statements is but if I had to guess it would be something along the lines of you write a witness statement with your full name and address, type what you do, numbered paragraphs etc, pages numbered and had a sentence saying - I exhibit at the end of this witness statement the statement I (or whoever it was) gave to the police dated XYZ (and then attach it and sign the front and date it ) and I confirm that everything stated in that statement remains true and accurate. I draw attention to XYZ..." and point out any very important bits and then I confirm this witness statement is true or whatever you say at the end of them and then sign and date it and give your full name including middle name.

That may not be be what adopting statements given to the police means but it is my best guess at it.

[sunnyhills]

I'm posting mainly to bump your post and to say how sorry I am that you are in this situation .

I have had great advice on wills and minor legal stuff here
www.lemonfool.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=423745c912d0cf84298a51fc81ac2f86

your issue might be a bit beyond the usual dealt with but you never know ,worth a shot .

I so wish you luck .

[NeverTwerkNaked]

I am clueless about family law (practice property law) but just wanted to send support because I know bewildering the family court system can be.

[Pleasecansomehelpme]

Yes, guardian appointed. Waiting to hear from the pro-bono unit but that's only for representation in court rather than assistance with statements.

I'm currently in nearly £20k of debt. I can't afford anymore help from a solicitor.

Thank you for your reply and concern.

[weatherbomb]

OP are cafcass involved & has a Guardian been appointed? A solicitor would be appointed to represent the child through the Guardian (if that makes sense). Did you apply to the pro bono unit? I'm so sorry you and your family are going through this. It is utter hell

[Pleasecansomehelpme]

I'm reviving this thread in the hope someone could give me abut of advice.

I'm drafting the statements for the family court fact finding hearing as we've not been able to get any pro-bono solicitor's help.

In addition to the statements, I need to adopt some police statements. Can anyone tell me how to do that?

Thank you in advance.

[SummerflowerXx]

Bless you both, I have had the same with SS deciding DC was safe with me after disclosures and police not prosecuting because of lack of corroboration. It means you are on the frontline of keeping your DC safe and in a financial nightmare if you cannot get legal aid. No advice, just sympathy

[Pleasecansomehelpme]

Sorry Lucy - father 'wants' residence. He's never had it.

Lily - court has appointed a guardian at our Barrister's request.

[lilyfire]

Has your sister asked the court whether it will make a rule 16.2 direction for her son to be made a party to the case? The court would then appoint a guardian who would appoint a solicitor. They would be able to test the evidence in a fact finding case - although would have different parameters to your sister so obviously not the same as her being represented. If the case is so complicated the court may well be prepared to make the direction.

[Lucysky2017]

Yes, best not to divulge much. I hope your sister finds the help needed. If the father has residence and yet is still making an application it sounds quite urgent as the longer the norm for the children is living with him the harder to change that status quo and their norm.

[Pleasecansomehelpme]

Thank you Family - I will contact them today.

[Pleasecansomehelpme]

Babybarrister - current barrister has suggested pro bono unit and law society - isn't willing to do pro bono herself.

Familylaw - thank you for that link - I will look into it further.

Lucy - I can't really divulge much but father was residence.

[Lucysky2017]

Presumably the father wants some contact or more contact or residence. Could your sister agree limited contact starting with supervised contact with a grand parent present?

[Pleasecansomehelpme]

There is absolutely no way my sister is able to represent herself effectively. We are being referred to Bar ProBono and I'm hoping that we will be accepted but obviously that isn't a certainty.

And whilst I understand it's difficult, I need someone to assist with the application and no one seems to be able to. I feel like I'm just going round in circles.

[Pleasecansomehelpme]

Following on from my original post, we have had so much conflicting advise that we're really at the end of our tether.

Can anyone who really knows tell me the following:

1. How I can find a solicitor who can help with the application for EXCEPTIONAL legal aid - all the solicitors I've approached seem to either know nothing about it or be unwilling to assist.
   

1. If there any family law practices who offer pro-bono assistance and how I should approach them.
   

I have asked to be referred to the Bar Pro-Bono service but because there are deadlines all the time for statements etc it looks like it's going to be refused.

This is utterly exhausting. I'm 11 weeks pregnant, sick, my sister and I are both broke and we're terrified. I feel like the system has let us down really badly.

[Pleasecansomehelpme]

Familylaw- we have to file some paperwork in the next 3 weeks (but less now) and probono bar says they can't help if there are any deadlines within 3 weeks.

The DV was over 5 years ago do not eligible.

However, I have read that if a case is sufficiently complex, lack of assistance with representation could constitute a breach of human rights.

I'll try again for legal aid first thing tomorrow morning.