Blog

Regional Legal Aid Firm of 2022 at the LALYs!

‘A Team of Fabulous Women!’ and ‘Leicester Legal Aid Legends’: Johnson Astills declared the Regional Legal Aid Firm of 2022 at the LALYs! What are the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards (LALYS)? On Tuesday 12

New Domestic Abuse Offences as of 7th June 2022

Section 70 Domestic Abuse Act 2021, introduced offences of non-fatal strangulation and non-fatal suffocation, these offences came into force on 7th June 2022. What is the offence of strangulation or suffocation? The legislation states that a person

Sexual Offences & Sexsomnia (Sex while you sleep)

WHAT IS SEXSOMNIA?  Sexsomnia is sexual behaviour while asleep. It is recognised in both sleep disorder and psychiatric classifications. Sexsomnia occurs when the brain is disassociated or partially disassociated and covers a wide range of sexual behaviours.

Plan to reform Human Right Act

The government established the Independent Human Rights Act Review in December 2020 to examine the framework of the Human Rights Act. The review looked at how it operates in practice and whether there was a need for change,

Mental Health Awareness Month

The week commencing 10th May is mental health awareness week. Having lived through the period of Covid-19 and Lockdown, mental health has become more openly discussed and we are being urged to take care of our mental health

How can I become a Solicitor?

There are now two different routes to qualify as a solicitor following the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). The traditional route to qualifying has the following requirements:- Qualifying Law degree If you have obtained a

Black History Month

In the UK, the scale and impact of institutionalised racism has been laid bare, with young Black men stopped and searched 20,000 times in London during the coronavirus lockdown, along with Black MPs, barristers, senior police officers,

Can my court hearing be filmed and shown on TV?

Serious high-profile criminal cases can now be seen and heard by TV and online audiences after new Legislation was laid before parliament on 16th January 2020. This marks a huge change as filming has only been permitted

Recovering possession of residential property

The law relating to Landlords and Tenants is complex, and a landlord will need to demonstrate compliance if they want to recover possession of a property that they let out under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST). Documentation/information

Why should you make a Will?

The creation of a Will ensures that following your death your wishes regarding your personal possessions, such as jewellery and family mementos are passed on to those you wish to receive them. As well as this, creation

The Myth of the ‘Common-Law Spouse’

Legal rights are conferred upon a person when they marry or enter into a civil partnership. These rights include: to inherit automatically if their spouse/civil partner dies intestate (without a will) to a degree of financial support

Drunk in Charge

I was sleeping in my car after drinking. Have I committed an offence? Many people are unaware that simply being in charge of a vehicle whilst over the legal alcohol limit is an offence. You may be

Solidarity Statement

Johnson Astills join many people and organisations across the globe. We stand in solidarity with our Black and Ethnic Minority clients and colleagues and stand by our commitment to challenge discrimination and racism wherever we find it.

Are Drivers Speeding during Lockdown?

Are speeding drivers flouting the law during lockdown? With less people travelling to work following government advice to stay alert and stay at home where you can, it would be reasonable to expect a significant fall in

The Impact of Covid-19 on Criminal Cases

Are the criminal courts still dealing with cases during lock-down? The criminal courts are continuing to deal with cases throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Both the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts in Leicester are operating but they are dealing

Will Signing and Covid-19

The demand for Wills over the past few months in light of Covid-19 has seen a 75% increase in those creating or updating Wills. It is more important than ever to ensure the ability to create a

Contact Arrangements In A Time Of Uncertainty

Clients old and new have been in touch in the last couple of weeks to seek guidance and reassurance of their position by law in relation to their living and contact arrangements for their children when separated

What is the impact of Covid-19 on Conveyancing Transactions?

Covid-19 can potentially impact conveyancing transactions in the following ways: Purchasers request for properties to be decontaminated; Sellers refuse to vacate on completion due to self-isolation; Banking system disruption; Booking removal companies or companies are reluctant to enter

We are still here for you

The Care Team at Johnson Astills has had to make a few changes this week. On Tuesday 24th March 2020, our Leicester and Loughborough offices closed temporarily following Government guidance relating to the Coronavirus (Covid-19). However, we

Our Wills and Probate team are here for you

Following Government advice, Johnson Astills have temporarily closed both offices in Leicester and Loughborough, however we are still fully operational and our phone lines remain open. We want to thank each and every keyworker for the hard

Purchasing New Build Properties

Purchasing a new build property is purchasing your new house before it is even built or whilst it is being built. The Conveyancing transaction is slightly different to a normal residential purchase of a home when the

Top Tips on Purchasing a Property

Purchasing a property is one of the most important financial decision you will ever make. The process can also be time consuming and you would be required to make numerous important decisions. Here are some of our

Top Tips when selling your house

Selling your house can be a complicated process along with it being stressful trying to plan the whole move. Our Johnson Astills conveyancing specialists are here to make the transaction as smooth as possible. Below are a

Solicitor vs DIY Probate

When someone you love or care about dies it is a very emotional time. Whilst you are still grieving you have to also think about dealing with the administration of their estate. If the deceased person left

New Police Powers in relation to Stalking

New Police Powers in relation to Stalking coming into place – TODAY! The Stalking Protection Order (SPO) that can result in five years in prison Stalking was made a specific criminal offence in England and Wales in

Civil Partnership

In June 2018, the Supreme Court ruled that civil partnerships would be available to heterosexual couples, as well as same-sex couples. A civil partnership is a legal relationship which when registered gives the relationship legal recognition and

Court of Protection and Deputyship

The Court of Protection is a Court in England and Wales created under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The Court of Protection is responsible for protecting people who do not have the capacity to make decisions for