Campaigners and trade unionists protested outside the High Court in London yesterday ahead of a legal challenge against the government’s draconian legal aid cuts for domestic violence victims.

Rights of Women is bringing the challenge, which argues that large numbers of survivors are being denied justice because new rules brought in by the coalition prevent them from obtaining legal aid.

The charity is disputing the legality of the changes, which set out mandatory evidence requirements for a victim seeking legal aid for a private family law case.