In November 2024, we launched our campaign calling for a simpler, fairer process to qualify for legal aid, ensuring that those who need protection can access essential support. This followed the publication of the SWRC paper “No Cost Barriers: Protective Orders in the Legal Aid System,” which provided an overview of the current legal aid crisis in Scotland, case studies from the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre (SWRC), and input from our SWRC solicitor Signposting Network. This network consists of solicitors who have completed the SWRC’s two-day Domestic Abuse & the Law training course. Members of the network contributed feedback through roundtables, voicing significant concerns about the barriers their clients face when seeking legal aid and accessing justice in Scotland. You can read more here: Why we need a legal aid reform. Victim/survivors of abuse should not have to pay for their own protection
After one year, we are sharing our campaign report, which highlights what we did and what we achieved. You can read more here: NOV-2025-Report-SWRC-Legal-Aid-Campaign-_latest-update.pptx
