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Requests for legal service increase to 90% amid latest lockdowns
New data has suggested that requests for legal advice have increased by 90 per cent since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as communication breakdowns and immense financial pressures follow Australians from one lockdown to the next.
Naomi Neilson
With almost 60 per cent of the Australian population now restricted to their houses to wait out the new deadly outbreaks, the pressure on Australian families is building more than at any other time since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest statistics from network specialist company The Separation Guide.
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The new figures found that along with a 78 per cent increase of people seeking access to violence prevention services and an 81 per cent increase in psychological support, the requests for legal advice have significantly risen to 90 per cent.
Co-founder, mediator and barrister Jack Whelan said the current latest stage of the pandemic lockdowns was taking a toll on relationships particularly.
“These figures paint a picture of Australian families under duress. It’s a very tough time for families. It’s forcing a lot of people to make the same very big life decisions. What is most important is that they make fully informed decisions,” he said.
He said it was especially concerning that there has been an almost 80 per cent increase in the number of people seeking access to violence prevention services, “making access to discrete and effective support even more important”.
Chief executive Angela Harbinson mirrored this, adding that services are more important than ever as families see an increase in the burden of homeschooling children, the ongoing pressures of working from home and away from support networks, communication breakdowns and immense financial pressures.
“Our message is the same: make sure you get the support you need to make the best decisions you can in your own unique circumstances,” she said.
