A prominent women’s justice charity will run a landmark government-funded legal advice service for rape complainants - and is urging solicitors with experience of the criminal justice system to apply to be part of the pioneering scheme.
Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones announced this month that the Centre for Women’s Justice, supported by Rape Crisis England & Wales and Victim Support, will deliver the service, which begins next year.
The initiative was announced by David Lammy in March. Backed by initial funding of £6m over two years, the service will help complainants understand their rights and challenge unnecessary requests for personal information such as counselling records, medical history or mobile phone data.
The centre said: ‘Until this scheme begins, most victims and survivors have had no way of obtaining legal advice or representation, making it difficult for them to challenge investigations and prosecution decisions when they need to do so. This causes additional unnecessary trauma, leading to many withdrawing from the process before trial. Although the new Independent Legal Advice service cannot represent victims at court, it will address some of the key problems that they experience through the criminal justice process.’
The charity is recruiting for civil and criminal lawyers to support complainants. The roles are open only to women, which CWJ said was an occupational requirement under schedule 9 of the Equality Act.
Nogah Ofer, who will head the service, told the Gazette the CWJ is looking for solicitors with experience of the criminal justice system, whether defending or prosecuting, or experience of civil claims against the police and public law.
The service covers a new area of law, Ofer added. 'Because there has never traditionally been lawyers involved in this kind of role, you're coming to the same legal issues but from a new legal perspective. For instance, making representations on whether the suspect should be granted bail - the defendant will have their own view but the victims has a right to be consulted.'
The deadline for applications is 9am on 26 October.
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