Founded in 2001, Support Through Court is the only organisation exclusively dedicated to increasing access to justice for people without legal representation facing the civil or family courts. Our trained volunteers provide practical support to clients at any stage of the court process. We ensure that people facing court alone can represent themselves with dignity and we support them to take a full part in court proceedings and achieve better access to justice.
Tailored to each individual, our volunteer support is wide-ranging and includes providing practical and procedural information, explaining what would happen in court, helping people to fill out complicated forms and write witness statements, and supporting clients as they plan what they would like to say to a judge. Our service is free and open to anyone who needs it. As we cannot give legal advice or provide representation, we signpost clients (where necessary) to firms providing legal aid or pro bono advice, and to specialist agencies for other client needs.
Many of Support Through Court’s clients face life-changing issues, such as debt, bankruptcy, homelessness and loss of contact with their children, and come to us in extreme stress. We can help at any stage of the court process.
What will you gain from volunteering with us?
We offer practical experience in a supported environment, including:
· A clear understanding of the challenges facing litigants in person
· Vital, first-hand experience of the court process to complement legal studies
· Practical skills in completing court applications and witness statements for the civil and family courts and tribunals
· Experience in explaining court procedure to clients
· Experience of the remote courts and up to date knowledge of processes as the courts become more digitalised
· The unique opportunity to attend remote hearings to provide moral support and note taking (for de-briefing purposes)
· Encouraging a client to consider their next steps and the various possible outcomes of their case
· Client interviewing skills - learning to tailor support dependent on client need while effectively managing an appointment
· Soft skills in communication, active listening, problem solving, evaluating, dissecting information, and using initiative
· Increasing confidence
Our volunteers often cite their experience volunteering with us as a key factor in supporting their entry into the legal profession. Throughout your time volunteering with us, you will make a huge impact on the lives of often extremely vulnerable people, who are struggling to navigate the complicated procedures and processes required when going through the courts.
To volunteer, please complete this online form!