I have volunteered with Bristol Law Centre for a few years now. I must confess to being apprehensive when I was first asked to participate in the Family Law Clinic. Legal aid reforms meant it was almost impossible for people on low income to have access to justice and I felt strongly that reaching out even to a handful of people could ‘restore the balance’.

I have gained much satisfaction from being able to advise and signpost those who would have otherwise struggled to navigate their way through the system, to sources of support to empower them to do deal with their family law problems. Unresolved family law issues often turn to health issues as I have learned over the years by speaking to those facing relationship breakdown.

Helping even in a small way feels like ‘filling the void’ that the abolition of legal aid as we’ve known it has created. I take much comfort from the positive feedback that is received from clients who truly appreciate the work of the Bristol Law Centre.

Sylvie is a partner at Wards Solicitors.