County Court Help Desk

The national picture

Prompted by bureaux concerns, using evidence from clients and several reports showing that access to justice was getting worse not better, Citizens Advice gave access to justice top priority. Surprisingly in the light of this, proposals were put forward to reduce access further by cutting representation, eligibility limits for owner occupiers, more rigorous tests for the types of cases and the curtailment of family legal aid schemes.
Citizens Advice launched a campaign including surveys, ministers' briefings and publications which enabled it to help shape the debate and influence official reports and introduce into the language the now well-used phrase 'advice deserts'.

The local perspective

Over the year the Court Desk has been staffed by two advisers from Chelmsford CAB, and two advisers from Witham CAB. We are very grateful to the four of them for the good job they do, helping out people at Possession Hearings who are in danger of losing their homes. It is a very different way of working from advice-giving within a bureau. In the Court we have only a few minutes to find out the client's story and make an assessment of whether they will be able to meet their future commitments, whether for rent or mortgage, and pay something off the arrears. If they can, the Court is likely to give a suspended possession order. If the situation is less clear cut, but we can see a possibility of a solution in the near future (for example, an entitlement to Housing Benefit) then we ask the Court for an adjournment to give us a little more time to sort things out.
Over the past 12 months, the desk was staffed for 106 hours and we helped 115 clients, and dealt with 141 separate issues. This has resulted in 60 orders suspended on terms, and 33 adjournments. Two cases were dismissed, and one withdrawn. In addition, there have been a number of 56-day possession orders, where a sale has been pending but more time has been needed for completion. The most common cause of difficulties continues to be problems with housing benefit, followed by loss of employment / variable work patterns, and ill health.

Annual Review 2004-5