The Vital Role of Family Court Support Workers
November is Woman Abuse Prevention Month and with the goals of education and awareness in mind, it is important to acknowledge the legal resources available for survivors in Ontario.
The family court process is rarely a pleasant experience, especially when there is a history of domestic violence between litigants. For this reason, Family Court Support Workers have become an invaluable resource for survivors of domestic violence. Their role involves providing survivors with legal resources, aiding in preparation for family court, completing legal documents, and attending court appearances.
However, the most important service provided by Family Court Support Workers is emotional support throughout the family court process. People who find themselves entangled in the legal system are typically in a vulnerable position, and the addition of family breakdown, drastic lifestyle changes and intimate-partner violence to the mix only serves to exacerbate this vulnerability. During this difficult time, survivors of domestic violence can greatly benefit from a support worker who can interpret legal jargon and offer support when proceedings become emotionally overwhelming. This is not only helpful for litigants, but it also allows lawyers to focus on the legal issues without having to navigate difficult emotional situations.
The Family Court Support Worker program also addresses access to justice issues. With rising legal costs leading to an increase in self-represented litigants in family law cases, Family Court Support Workers provide invaluable services that are traditionally only offered by lawyers. Not only can they help a client with preparing the correct documents and filing them with the courts, but they also prepare litigants for court appearances. Standing in front of a judge is normal for lawyers, but many people struggle with public speaking, especially when the person you’re speaking to is about to make decisions for your family!
The benefits that Family Court Support Workers provide to survivors of domestic violence are indispensable. Their special training in dealing with high-conflict cases and ability to empathize with their clients are unmatched in the system of family law. The one problem with Family Court Support Workers is that there aren’t enough of them.
For a list of Family Court Support Programs in Ontario, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/family-court-support-workers
Hannah is a 1L at Osgoode and a Co-Publications Director for the Osgoode Hall Family Law Association.
If you are interested in family law, follow @ohfla.osgoode on Instagram or reach out by email to ohfla.osgoode@gmail.com