Kayleigh
Collected on:
AVOID AVOID AVOID
Because I had just fled my abusive relationship, and I was scared for mine and my kid’s safety, I was desperate to get my papers sent to the court to apply for an emergency non-molestation. Unfortunately, the court didn’t grant me an emergency non-molestation order and I was distraught. After reviewing my statement in more detail, it was weak, and nothing was empathised about the crucial issues. They had literally copied and pasted what the domestic abuse service had written. Nothing more was added in it. I had no telephone consultation. All I got was one 2min phone call from Sanjay who asked me to sign my statement and that was it. So, it really seems like they took the legal aid and did as little work as possible for it. Sometimes, they didn’t answer the phone, and when I did get an answer, it was someone different every time, and no one seemed to have a clue about my case. Furthermore, the judge ordered for some tasks to be done within a 2-week deadline. After 2 weeks had passed and after several phone call and emails chasing this up, my solicitors did absolutely nothing that the judge ordered. I went to request my GP letter by myself because the solicitors wouldn’t do it. Then I asked my solicitors to pay for the letter using legal aid and my solicitors did nothing. Furthermore, my ex had snatched our 5 year-old from my house and kept her away for almost 4 weeks during which I had no contact with her, she missed school and I didn’t know where she was. I pleaded and pleaded with my solicitors to apply for legal aid ASAP to apply for an emergency prohibited steps order so I could get her back. After 4 weeks had passed and my solicitors still had not applied for legal aid to deal with my child arrangement order. They kept making up excuses about me not having enough evidence to get legal aid when everything they asked me to get for them, I did straight away. They said that my letter from the domestic abuse was not enough. Then said the letter from my IDVA was not enough. Furthermore, they said to me on the phone that I need to write my own statement to explain why I should have the kids with me to which I responded – “Is writing the statement not your job to do?”. After so much upset and distress, I switched solicitors and I have successfully transferred my legal aid from them. It really seems to me like their business model is to take on as many legal aid cases as possible, make as much money as possible for doing as little work as possible. I came to this solicitor in a family crisis and what have done (or more to the point – what they have not done) is INHUMANE.
Was this review helpful?
