DV evidence requirements

Young Legal Aid Lawyers welcomes the Government’s decision to change the legal aid evidence requirements for victims of domestic violence.

The new Regulations, which will come into force on 8 January 2018, will remove the five year time limit for evidence of abuse and introduce new forms of acceptable evidence, including from social services, medical professionals and domestic violence support organisations.

YLAL also looks forward to the outcome of the Government’s ongoing review of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO), and hopes that the Government will take further steps to reverse cuts to legal aid made in recent years.

Read our full statement in response to the new Regulations below.