When Legal Aid Dried Up, Lisa Hilder Built a New Path to Justice for Women
When women can’t afford justice, they often can’t afford to leave.
That’s exactly why Lisa Hilder founded Affordable Justice - a non-profit law firm rewriting the rules of family law and helping women across the UK take back control.
In 2012, the UK government passed LASPO, quietly stripping legal aid from many family law cases - making it harder for women in abusive relationships to access justice.
Lisa Hilder, Director and Founder, Affordable Justice and Preston Road Women's Centre
Lisa Hilder saw the consequences first-hand. Through her work at Preston Road Women’s Centre in Hull, she witnessed how financial control and fear kept women trapped - and how the removal of legal aid made it even harder to leave.
Building a legal model women can trust
Together with family law solicitor Sue Sedgwick, Lisa developed a completely new approach.
After two years of planning, they launched Affordable Justice in 2016: a non-profit legal firm operating within a feminist, trauma-informed framework. Their mission? To put care, clarity, and accessibility at the heart of family law - making it truly work for women.
“For many of these women, it’s not about getting the house or money,” says Lisa. “They just want a clean, permanent break - and the freedom to move on.”
As a non-profit, Affordable Justice is able to offer services for less than a third of commercial law firms’ rates, without compromising on quality. Their wraparound model - delivered from a purpose-built hub at Preston Road Women’s Centre - provides not just legal advice, but also access to emergency housing, childcare, domestic abuse advocacy, and more.
97% of women get the outcome they want
In an independent evaluation, Affordable Justice reported 97% of women achieving the outcomes they wanted.
That measurable impact reflects the heart of their approach: empowering women, not overwhelming them.
Support that respects, listens and believes
What makes Affordable Justice different is how it treats its clients.
Instead of cold legal transactions, Lisa and Sue created a service rooted in compassion, understanding and emotional safety. Women are heard, their wishes prioritised, and their experience handled with care - not cost-cutting or bias.
As one client shared:
“Making that first call… I got a consultation the next day… and in 24 hours the ball is moving.”
Another said:
“She saw me as a full person, not a number of a client.”
Life After Leaving: More than law, real freedom
From a single gifted council house, the firm has into a national hub, serving women across England and Wales.
Lisa’s work didn’t stop with legal support - she also helped develop safe housing for women rebuilding their lives. She’s helped raise over £9 million to create supportive homes, and her funding model has enabled 29 other organisations to raise an additional £17.6 million across the UK.
Purpose, Not Profit
“We wanted to build something that worked - not just legally, but emotionally, too,” Lisa explains. “By creating models that are self-sustaining and values-led, we help women take back control of their lives for good.”
From legal advice to safe housing, Lisa Hilder’s work proves that business models with heart can create powerful, lasting change.
