Abuse compensation; offering both trained female and male solicitors for you to speak to in confidence

For a child or adult who has suffered sexual abuse or sexual assault, coming forward and discussing their case is inevitably a harrowing and painful experience. At Slee Blackwell, our specialist team of abuse lawyers will listen to you and deal with your query confidentially and sympathetically.

We have both trained female and male lawyers so you can choose, in confidence, who you would like to talk to. We have vast wealth of experience representing claimants; from the rape of a child by a family member in the home to wide-scale and systematic abuse of adults in the care home environment. Whilst we understand your case will be unique to you, our range of experience helps us to understand the problems that you have suffered. We will guide and support you through every step of your claim and, as part of that process, we will make every effort to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

We understand that financial compensation will not take away the pain of the experience you have suffered. In choosing Slee Blackwell, we will ensure that at the appropriate stage in your sexual abuse claim you have the opportunity to talk confidentially to experienced medical experts who can support you through the emotional problems that sexual abuse can cause. If your abuse claim succeeds, you will be entitled to receive counselling and therapy to assist you in recovering from the inevitable trauma that sexual abuse causes. Victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault often fail to reach their full potential and part of our role is to ensure that for the successful claimant you have access to training and education if you have been unable to achieve this as a consequence of your abuse.

We will ensure, where appropriate, that the police and any other relevant third parties are involved in your case so that the necessary steps can be taken to help ensure the perpetrator is prevented from harming others like you. In this way, bringing a legal action will be of benefit not just to you, but to other people who are vulnerable.

Our experienced team of lawyers enables us to represent a wide range of abuse victims. We have successfully brought civil claims for victims in the following sexual abuse cases:-

• Assault in the street
• Assault or abuse in the workplace
• Assault or abuse in the home
• Assault or abuse within a religious institution
• Assault or abuse within a care home
• Assault or abuse within a boarding school
• Assault or abuse within the Scouting movement or other youth organisations

In the past the fact that the assault or abuse occurred many years ago could have prevented you from bringing a civil claim. Through a landmark decision in the House of Lords case A v Hoare [2008], a victim of historic abuse or assault can still bring a civil claim for abuse compensation even if it did not take place within the normal three year limitation period. This case has therefore had widespread consequences for victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault. Incidents that may have occurred many years previously or even in childhood may still be actionable. This has opened the door to many victims who would have previously been out of time to bring their claim for assault compensation.

We can also assist you with a claim against the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) and we have a vast range of experience in representing victims where a civil claim is not an option. This may be the case if the perpetrator simply does not have the means to pay compensation to you, in which case a CICA claim may be the best way forward. We can represent you in any appeal at the CICA Tribunal to ensure that your award is maximised.

We conduct civil compensation claims on a no win, no fee basis. Where appropriate we can also apply for public funding on your behalf. We deal with CICA claims on a contingency fee basis, as unfortunately legal costs are not paid under the CICA scheme. Our contingency fee agreements are capped at 25% plus VAT, an extremely competitive rate for the CICA applicant.

If any of these issues affect you and you would like to speak to one of our team of sexual abuse lawyers in total confidence, please call us on our freephone number 0808 139 1597 for FREE, no obligation advice.