Legal updates newsletter
Legal updates: July – August 2026
Issue 2
National rollout of independent legal advice for survivors of rape and assault by penetration
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed a national Independent Legal Advice (ILA) scheme for survivors of rape and assault by penetration, backed by £6 million in funding over two years.
The service will give survivors access to specialist lawyers who can advise them on issues arising during police investigations and prosecutions, including requests for personal data such as counselling records, medical history and mobile phone downloads. Advisers will help survivors understand their rights and support them in challenging unnecessary and disproportionate requests.
The announcement follows years of campaigning across the VAWG sector and two successful pilots in Northumbria and London. The contract for providing this service is currently out for tender.
Government proposes biggest changes to family finances law in decades – have your say
The Government has launched a landmark consultation on proposals to reform the law governing finances when relationships end in England and Wales. This is a significant opportunity to improve financial outcomes for survivors of domestic abuse. The proposals include strengthening how courts take domestic abuse into account when making financial decisions after divorce and introducing, for the first time, a legal framework for financial claims when eligible cohabiting couples separate.
Currently, there is no dedicated legal framework governing financial arrangements when unmarried couples separate, regardless of how long they have lived together or whether one partner has become financially disadvantaged because of the relationship. This can leave survivors of domestic abuse facing significant financial insecurity and unfair outcomes at the end of a relationship. The consultation seeks views on proposals to address this gap, alongside specific reforms to the law on financial remedies following divorce.
This is an important opportunity for domestic abuse organisations to ensure that survivors’ experiences help shape the future of family law. You do not need to respond to every question on the consultation questionnaire – you can answer only those that are most relevant to your organisation’s expertise and experience.
The consultation includes specific questions on:
- whether domestic abuse should be more readily taken into account in financial remedy cases; and
- how domestic abuse should affect financial outcomes following relationship breakdown.
The consultation closes on 14 August 2026.
Rights of Women will be submitting a response and is working closely with Surviving Economic Abuse to ensure that survivors’ experiences are reflected in the Government’s proposals.
If your organisation would like support to engage with the consultation or would like to discuss a response, please contact us at [email protected]
Legal Q&A
In our Q&A section, our specialist lawyers answer common queries on criminal, family, and immigration and asylum law.
Question:
I’m supporting a migrant woman who doesn’t have access to her own immigration status because her abusive husband controls it. What can she do?
Answer:
Physical immigration documents have been replaced with eVisas.
An eVisa is a digital record of a person’s immigration status, accessed through an online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. UKVI accounts are linked to an email address and mobile phone number for signing in.
If the woman you are supporting cannot access her eVisa because the email address or mobile number linked to her UKVI account is controlled by her abusive partner, she can ask the Home Office to help her recover control of the account. This is called “account recovery”.
It is important to think about safety before taking any steps.
There are two different ways to recover access to a UKVI account. One route may send automatic notifications to the existing email address or phone number linked to the account. The other route may take longer but can be done “silently”, meaning notifications are not sent to the existing contact details. This may be safer for victim-survivors who do not want to alert the person controlling their immigration information that they are taking control over their own eVisa.
She should consider which option is safest for her circumstances and, where possible, get support from a specialist domestic abuse service, migrant women’s organisation or regulated immigration adviser.
Further details about recovering control of an eVisa are available in Rights of Women’s legal guide here.
Upcoming training dates for non-legal professionals across London boroughs in community, voluntary and statutory VAWG roles.
Upcoming courses
Free courses
Funded by the London Councils Ascent project
Peer Support, Supporting Victims of Domestic Abuse | 7 Sep 2026
Indefinite Leave for Victims of Domestic Abuse | 8 Sep 2026
Domestic Abuse Act 2021: Protection for Survivors in Legal Proceedings | 9 Sep 2026
Places are limited, and numbers per organisation are capped for funding reasons.
Ticketed sessions
These sessions are paid and open to professionals across England and Wales.
Sexual Violence and Criminal Justice Processes for Professionals | 12 Aug 2026
Migrant Women & Immigration Control | 2 Sep 2026 – LIMITED TICKETS
Funded by London Councils and part of the London Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Consortium, Ascent Advice and Counselling strand.
http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/grants
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