• Swindon & Wiltshire Social
• Monday September 9 2024
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Wiltshire lawyers skill up to help domestic abuse victims

Wiltshire law firm Goughs has been expanding the support it can give to victims of domestic violence.

Members of the family law team, which supports clients through relationship breakups, have been undergoing specialist training to help give the team the emotional tools and resources they need to support clients trying to extricate themselves from abusive relationships.

Meanwhile, the firm has set up a free monthly family law clinic with Trowbridge charity FearFree, which offers broad support to victims of domestic abuse and their families.

Individuals are given appointments with lawyers in a comfortable environment, away from the usual legal office.

Natalie Kemp, senior associate and head of the domestic violence team at Goughs, said:“ I am thrilled to work at an organisation where the support of victims is given the time and resources it requires to truly be able to support victims.

“Not only are we experts in the law, meaning we can act swiftly and appropriately to protect individuals, but we can ensure we enable victims to move on with their lives in a positive way. The training I have personally undertaken has really embedded the need for such support in the communities in which we operate.”

The extra support has been welcomed by Fearfree, which was Goughs’ charity of the year 2023-4.

Jessica Severn, Wiltshire service manager at FearFree, said: “We are pleased that Goughs chose to partner with FearFree in offering those we support such an invaluable legal and emotional consultation.

“Often victims of domestic violence don’t know where to start with legal proceedings so it’s brilliant that we can point them in the right direction with such a highly dedicated legal team.”

Pictured: Alice Blackmore, Georgia Holmes, Rhianna Cole, Georgina Catlin, Amelia Cruise, Mark Hood, Natalie Kemp, Hannah Francis