CCChat-Magazine_Issue-14

Rachel Horman
On Why She Wrote a Book
Rachel Horman is a Solicitor
and Head of the Domestic
Abuse, Stalking and Forced
Marriage Department at a
Lancashire based law firm,
but her practice extends
beyond the firm’s base
throughout England
and Wales.
She has represented several
high profile stalking victims.
and regularly advises clients
on how to increase the
chances of obtaining a
successful prosecution for
stalking as well as advising in
relation to civil options.
Rachel was highly
commended in the Female
Lawyer of the Year Category
at the Law Society
Excellence Awards 2016,
won the Eva Business Award
2016, the Jordans Family
Law Partner of the Year
Award in 2014 and the
National Family Legal Aid
Lawyer of the Year Award in
2012 as recognition of her
work in these areas.
Rachel is also the Chair of
the charity Paladin, the
National Stalking Advocacy
Service and was personally
involved in changing the law
to create a criminal
offence of coercive control
which came into force
in December 2015.
For more information on
Rachel Horman and to also
read her blog, please visit:
www.rachelhorman.co.uk
E
very
week I receive dozens of enquiries from
victims representing themselves or victims who are
unhappy with their representation in family court
cases where coercive control is a feature. Coercive
control is still not understood by the family courts in
my view and victims quite rightly feel let down.
As a solicitor working within the family court system I too feel frustrated
by the system and the sometimes blinkered view taken by cafcass and
the judiciary around issues of coercive control and narcissism.
Unfortunately I do not have a magic wand and can only work within the
current system although I do campaign for change along with many
others.
When I was asked to write a book about coercive control for lawyers
my first thought was for the many women who are forced to go through
the court system alone and so I decided that I wanted my book to be of
use to them as well as lawyers. I have tried to highlight some of the
issues that victims need to consider and preparation for the family
court process and also to try to help show how some victims of
coercive control may be able to access legal aid.
My biggest criticism of the family courts is that many of those within it
do not understand the subtleties of coercive control and are still stuck
in a “why didn’t she just leave if it was so bad” frame of mind and there
is very little understanding of the links between coercive control and
homicide. Until this issue is properly understood findings of facts
hearings (if you are lucky enough to get one) will continue to be
conducted from a position of scepticism and sometimes disbelief
leading to victims being labelled as attempting to frustrate contact and
alienate the children.
I hope that victims find my book helpful but what they deserve is a
system that understands and protects women and children from this
insidious and devastating form of abuse.
Now read Chapter 2 of Rachel Horman's book:
‘A Practical Guide to Coercive Control for Legal Practitioners and
Victims’ for FREE:
Making The Invisible Visible