Ms Joanne Condon:

Absolutely. There are people on the waiting list who are due in court and feel very overwhelmed, may not understand the new ADM legislation or what it means for them personally to be discharged from wardship, and may have unique communication styles that we need to support. We often develop, for example, easy-to-read documentation to support somebody or they may use augmentative technology. It is a very individualised approach to supporting people through their unique set of circumstances. Without that support, where somebody lacks natural supports in their own life, they can often not feel prepared to access legal aid to have their voice appropriately represented in court free of all other conflicts of interest. One of the unique aspects about our service is that we are independent. We are entirely there for the person and the person only. We do not have any other agenda.