The Women's Resource Centre's staff lawyer has her hands full offering assistance to victims of domestic violence.

Honor Desmond-Tetlow has been providing legal aid in all cases of domestic violence and sexual assault that have come through the centre since May last year.

And she has seen a 60 percent increase in clients requiring her services in the past year.

In addition to accompanying the victim to court, the staff lawyer acts as a liaison with the Police and handles all legal correspondence.

Although the centre does not specifically treat children, Mrs. Desmond-Tetlow told The Royal Gazette that children were directly and indirectly affected by violence that occurred against their mothers.

"I am becoming more and more concerned with the way we treat our children in society,'' she said. "Most of our clients have almost always had some form of physical, emotional, or substance abuse in their (childhood) background.

"I had a situation where a client came in, and her boyfriend had warned her six-year-old son, `You'd better take a good look at your mom, because I'm gonna kill her','' Mrs. Desmond-Tetlow recalled.

"How is that child supposed to function, or concentrate in school, having been told something like that,'' she asked.

Mrs. Desmond-Tetlow has also been providing sociological training for the Police.

She said the officers needed to be sensitive to the children who have been traumatised by witnessing an episode of domestic violence.

Although new legislation on domestic violence has yet been implemented, she said she expected to be even busier in upcoming months seeking a greater number of protection orders for clients.

Mrs. Desmond-Tetlow also stressed that she remained concerned about the lack of available funds for the centre which relies on charitable donations.

Free legal assistance is offered in all of the cases handled by the centre.

And according to Women's Resource Centre chairperson Penny Dill, certain legal services, such as obtaining restraining orders, would ordinarily cost the woman more than $700.

Ms. Dill said the Women's Resource Centre was considering offering assistance to the Physical Abuse Centre which currently does not have a staff lawyer.

HONOURABLE WORK -- Honor Desmond-Tetlow is the staff lawyer at the Women's Resource Centre.

WOMEN WOM