Rob’s story

Hear from one of our volunteers in Manchester about supporting clients through the family court.

Hi! My name is Rob and I’m semi-retired director of a tech company. I’m also a keen runner and mountain leader. I’ve been a Support Through Court volunteer for over five years after being introduced to the charity by my wife. She thought that in my retirement I should be talking to real people rather than computer geeks and algorithms – a bit harsh on my work colleagues but I still thank her for this observation. At Support Through Court I meet and support people from all walks of life often at a time of real difficulty and this has helped me develop new skills.

I volunteer three – four days per month at Manchester Civil Justice Centre. The majority of our clients are involved in family court cases typically child contact, domestic abuse prevention and divorce but we also support clients facing eviction and money claims.

We help clients through all stages of the court process from discussing problems and initial applications to accompanying them to final hearings. As a part-time volunteer I just pick up cases on the day as they appear in our calendar.  

I’m fortunate to have never had any dealings with the family court but I’d always assumed that there was legal aid and that participants were represented by solicitors and barristers. I now know that unless you are wealthy you are a “litigant in person”. This means representing yourself in a very stressful situation.

For most of us, our family, children, relationships, home: these are the most important things in our lives. Applications can be complex and hearings intimidating. The court is making huge decisions. The combination of emotions and court procedure can soon be overwhelming and it really helps to have the support of someone who can remain calm, empathise and explain what is going on. Many of our clients are disadvantaged by poverty, language difficulties or insufficient literacy – none of which should affect your access to justice, whether you get to see your children, or remain in your home.

I have no legal qualifications but my career managing a tech company gives me confidence that I can understand forms and legislation. Although everyone’s family situation is unique, we can gain a lot from observing our clients cases and seeing how the law is applied. We have to be careful to avoid giving legal advice whilst enabling the client to discuss and explore their options.

I particularly enjoy supporting clients through pre-hearing meetings with social workers and solicitors from the other side. By helping the client to understand the options and focus, some mediation and compromise can often be achieved. We can’t speak for clients in hearings but we can help them organise their documents and whisper explanations when required. It’s so important that participants fully understand what is happening in court otherwise mistrust can develop a feeling that the whole system is against them and all sense of justice is lost.

I prefer to work face to face but I also have phone and online appointments as well as doing my share of the many emailed queries.

We have a fantastic team of core volunteers in Manchester and my colleagues are always there to guide, reassure and talk. Our partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University provides a stream of keen law students. Mentoring these young volunteers can be a particularly satisfying part of the role.

There are Support Through Court offices in many cities of England and Wales and a national helpline.  If you want a rewarding volunteer role that really does make a difference then I suggest that you get involved.

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