A SOLA’s Journey
My legal journey began in January 1988 when as a fresh-faced teenager I was placed in the legal department of a government department, and my interest in the law began. My true journey began on 28th June 2016, the date of incident in what became known as the ‘Rugby Rape trial’. This incident led to a controversial trial, the belittling of a victim, the lack of empathy for the victim not only by the Criminal Justice system but also from the bus loads of spectators who came to view it like an episode of Eastenders. The trial somewhat bypassed me to be honest, I was working as a Criminal Defence solicitor and after all it was just more business in Court 12 at Laganside. Like most others however, it was an awakening, a time to consider my role within the Criminal Justice system and what could I do to make it a vocation rather than ‘a job’, This vocation became a reality after the Gillen report, a report into the trial and the Justice system as a whole, and a path which led to my role as a Sexual Offences Legal Adviser (SOLA) within Victim Support NI in June 2021 and funded by the DoJ. It perhaps took me 33 years to reach maturity and find a role within the Criminal Justice System where I felt that I could make a change to the people that mattered, the victims, and the most vulnerable of victims in that, those who suffered an intimate attack on them and who feel that justice is beyond them.
I came into this job with a big heart but have also got my eyes opened by the massive hurdles that any victim must overcome to even seek justice not necessarily get it. I initially joined the ‘Senior Sola’, and another colleague then joined and the enthusiasm in helping victims has remained from the very first time we met as a team almost four years ago. It is not easy for us as solicitors, so how difficult is it for traumatized victims? We do not seek to add to that trauma, there is no need, but what we do seek is to ensure that they are not afraid of getting justice where they should be getting justice. We have witnessed it, our advice empowers the victim, it is no longer a hundred-foot wall to get over within the system, and in turn it empowers us. They believe in us, and we believe in them. The SOLA team are not naive, we cannot guarantee results but what we can guarantee that we shall listen in an empathetic manner, we shall explain the Justice system in a manner which every victim can understand, and we shall give them a voice within the Justice system, their voice. We encourage every victim to be brave, to believe in themselves and to believe in the SOLA team and importantly that Justice is out there for them.
If you have been a victim of a Serious Sexual Offence please contact us for advice at any stage of your journey within the Criminal Journey, or indeed if you are considering reporting it.
Sexual Violence - SOLAs (Sexual Offences Legal Advisers) - Victim Support NI
