Blog

Firm News

First English Forced Marriage Prosecution

by

22nd May 2018 saw the first successful conviction in England for forced marriage.  The mother of the victim, who was 17 at the time, fooled her daughter into going to Pakistan in September 2016 to marry a

Drug Offences – An Overview

by

In efforts to prevent drug misuse legal restrictions are placed on the creation, use and distribution of highly dangerous and harmful drugs. Under legislation controlled drugs are those classified as being of either class A, B or

What is a Pre-proceedings meeting?

by

Are you a parent and have you received a letter from the Local Authority asking you to attend a Pre-proceedings meeting? If you have, our specialist team at Johnson Astills can help you. A Pre-proceedings meeting means

What is the role of an intermediary in court?

by

The role of an intermediary was created by the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 to aid in criminal cases which involved vulnerable witnesses. However, the use of intermediaries has since spread to be included in

Just a little fight….Affray

by

What could start out as a disagreement between two people could result in your arrest and ultimately a criminal conviction. In recent months even England Cricketer Ben Stokes has found himself charged with affray following an incident

Director of Public Prosecutions resigns

by

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms Alison Saunders (the Lawyer who leads and is ultimately responsible for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)) has announced that she will not be extending her five-year term and will be resigning.

Road Traffic Offences Specialists

by

With offences ranging from failing to wear a seatbelt to causing death by dangerous driving it is arguable that no other area of criminal law covers such a broad spectrum of offending behaviour. At Johnson Astills our

Joint Tenants or Tenants in Common?

by

Joint Tenants or Tenants in Common? As a prospective buyer, buying with another person can be an attractive option, allowing you to gather a bigger deposit and share your mortgage repayments. In England and Wales, there are

What is a Child Protection Conference?

by

A Child Protection Conference is generally held following a referral and investigations by the Local Authority in relation to a particular child and their situation. The test for convening a Child Protection Conference is: the child is

What is Disclosure in a Criminal Case?

by

You may have heard of a number of high profile rape and other serious cases collapsing recently due to a lack of disclosure. But what is disclosure?  As experts in Criminal Defence, Johnson Astills can explain. When investigating

Child Protection Plans

by

Social Services have a statutory obligation to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. If Social Services invite you to attend a Child Protection Conference it is because they have some concerns about the safety of

Do you require legal representation at Court?

by

If you require legal representation at the Youth Court, Magistrates’ Court and/or the Crown Court do not hesitate to call our Criminal Law Team at Johnson Astills on 0116 255 4855 or email us at crimeteam@johnsonastills.com. Our team

Stamp Duty Land Tax changes for First Time Buyers

by

Following recent spring budget announcement there is no significant changes to stamp duty land tax for first-time buyers or downsizing individuals. If you are a first time-buyer, SDLT will only be payable on residential properties over £425,000

What is an Easement?

by

An Easement is a right attached to one piece of land (dominant tenement) which gives the owner of the land a right to use another person’s land (servient tenement). The owners of the dominant and servient tenements

WHEN IS A CONSPIRACY THE WRONG CONSPIRACY?

by

Helen Johnson Solicitor Advocate at Johnson Astills When the prosecution decide to charge an offence of conspiracy they have to prove that there was an agreement to commit a criminal offence, eg to supply drugs. Evidence of

The Right to Affordable Justice: The Bach Commission

by

At Johnson Astills we are committed to providing affordable representation and advice to all our clients. On 22nd September 2017 the Bach Commission, setup by Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner and former barrister Lord William Bach, issued its final

What is a Secure Accommodation Order?

by

A Secure Accommodation Order can be made under Section 25 Children Act 1989. This Order allows children’s services to place a Looked After Child under the age of 16 in secure accommodation, on welfare grounds, if one

‘Thank you so much. We needed your help and support in such a vulnerable time in our lives.’

‘Although our partnership was under unpleasant circumstances, working with you make it a pleasure! I can’t thank you enough for making these months a positive experience as I always was assured of your support in the background. I will not hesitate to recommend you highly to anyone who needs your services.’

‘Having had experience of your organisation, my confidence in you grew. I would have no hesitation in asking you for any necessary representation in the future. Relatives and friends have already been told of my satisfaction. Thank you and well done!’

‘I am perfectly satisfied with the way the case was handled. My solicitor was very efficient, easy to communicate with and was very clear on what the outcome would or could be and who worked well.’

‘Thank you for your kindness. Sometimes it is not easy when you are trying to express how you gave us happiness. A very big thank you!’

‘I cannot fault my experience with Johnson Astills Solicitors. Throughout this difficult time I was made to feel secure, supported and validated – money can’t actually buy these things.’