International Women’s Day 8th March 2024
Supporting women has always been the absolute focus of Affordable Justice. Back in 2016 the company was established as a charitable legal firm, started by women for women, specialising in family law for women who are no longer eligible for legal aid, but cannot afford commercial fees.
That same focus is maintained across the company’s employment policies, with the drive to create a working environment in which women solicitors can truly flourish in a space which embraces their needs as working mothers, rather than judges, or penalises, them.
85 per cent of Affordable Justice’s client base has experience of domestic or sexual abuse, and although this is still covered by legal aid in principle, there remains a significant cohort of the female population that falls outside of the very narrow eligibility remit that currently exists for legal aid.
As a registered charity and non-profit Alternative Business Structure, Affordable Justicecharges less than a third of standard commercial fees. The success of its unique business model means that the company is growing rapidly and is looking to take on more women family law specialists across the UK to support a growing demand for its services.
Maintaining a woman only team is vital to maintain a safe and protected environment around these women, to give them the best possible chance of escaping from often life-threateningsituations.
“Since we were first established back in 2016, we have worked hard to ensure our business model responds to the inequalities inherent in the family law system. A recent independent report into our activities highlighted that the women we represented felt particularly heard and respected, and protected against what can be a traumatic legal process in the family courts. Our results speak for themselves – we are proud of a 97% success rate, obtaining the desired results for our clients,” commented Lisa Hilder, Affordable Justice director.
“Consequently, the positions we are seeking to fill offer a challenging, but highly satisfying role that is not only competitively paid compared with commercial firms but is also flexible and works around your own circumstances.”
Affordable Justice is keen to tackle the inherently misogynistic family court system which tends to be stacked against women, placing them in a vulnerable position where they risk being retraumatized by their abusers who are seeking to continue exerting control. Weaving threads of feminist empowerment into the company’s working practices ensures its clients are positively represented at all times.
“To date we have helped over 1400 women escape deeply damaging, often violent, circumstances. Because our sole focus is on women and their children, we have a deep understanding of the ways in which the system is being manipulated by abusers who will do anything to continue exerting their control and sense of power. Through Affordable Justice, not only are women able to access that legal support and representation that is so important, but they can do so knowing that we do everything in our power on their behalf. This focuseddedication is what makes us so successful.”
Affordable Justice is a multi award winning feminist charity established by women for women, offering opportunities to women who have experience in family law and family court proceedings seeking a more compatible and family friendly way of working than traditional legal firms.