An alarmingly high percentage of the British public do not know their legal rights and have no knowledge of basic legal processes, new research has revealed.

A report by the Public Legal Education Network (Plenet) an organisation aimed to provide legal knowledge to the public, has found that people struggle to understand important issues such as family and employment law, making them vulnerable to difficulties in the future.

"These findings are further evidence of widespread legal exclusion. There are significant gaps in people’s knowledge, skills and confidence in dealing with legal issues," commented Plenet’s Development Manager, Lisa Wintersteiger.

"The results show problems are not spread evenly across the population or across the issues. They disproportionately affect some vulnerable groups."

The survey of over 10,000 respondents found that, in respect of divorce, just 60% of partners said they understood their rights, while only half were aware of their legal protections against domestic violence.

The survey found that people’s knowledge is largely dependent on their background. People from ethnic minority communities and those living with mental health issues, long-term illness or disabilities are more likely to be uninformed, while women increasingly want to act but feel they can’t because a situation is "too stressful to sort out" or that they feel "too scared".

"We need to do more to shed light on this important area of public policy," added Ms Wintersteiger. "We need to focus on how we can reduce the burden of unresolved legal issues, both for individuals and society, through investment in public legal education."

Individuals struggling to understand the law’s many facets should seek help from Fosters solicitors.

To speak to a solicitor please call 01603 620508 or for more information please visit http://www.fosters-solicitors.co.uk