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Assault on Emergency Workers Bill

Until now the only specific offence has been that of assaulting a police officer. This is a summary only offence which carries a maximum of 6 months imprisonment. A new law has been passed which will create

Civil Partnerships

Up until 2004 same sex couples had little rights in order to formalise their relationships.  Civil Partnerships were therefore created in 2004 to give same sex couples similar legal and financial protection to a married couple.  Marriage

Possession of an offensive weapon

Carrying an offensive weapon is a serious offence. The unlawful provision and possession of weapons encourages violence and can cause serious injury and death. In addition to this possession of weapons also assists in the facilitation of

What are Section 47 Enquiries?

These enquiries refer to section 47 of the Children Act 1989. Section 47 of the Act covers a Local Authority’s, or Social Services, duty to carry out an investigation or assessment when they are informed that a child,

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you (the donor) to appoint attorneys to make decisions on your behalf.  Most people appoint trusted friends or relatives.  Some decide to appoint professional attorneys and, in

What is reasonable contact with a child in care?

Under Section 34(1) of the Children Act 1989, where a child is in the care of a Local Authority, the Local Authority must allow ‘reasonable contact’ between a child in its care and their parents, guardian and

Property Fraud and Identification Checks

Buying and/or selling a house can be a stressful period in your life with constant pressure to exchange contracts as quickly as possible. What happens if you discover the seller was a fraudster after contracts were exchanged

Great North Run 2018

Gemma Curtis, a solicitor in our care team entered the Great North Run 2018 and ran for Emery Johnson Astills’ chosen charity – Bodie Hodges Foundation. The Great North Run is the biggest half marathon in the

What is a Lancashire Finding in Care Proceedings

Where a child has suffered an injury and the cause of this injury is unknown, the Family Court may decide that a Fact Finding Hearing is necessary to hear the evidence available. The Court will hear evidence

Role of CAFCASS in Private Law Proceedings

CAFCASS stands for Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. CAFCASS represent children in Family Court cases in England. Their role is to put children’s wishes and feelings forward and make sure that decisions are made

Acid Attacks Increasing. What is the Law?

Publicity surrounding reports of incidents involving the use of acid or other corrosive substances have increased recently, with questions being asked as to how offenders who threaten or attack people with such substances are dealt with by

Great Scottish Swim 2018

On Saturday 25th August 2018 Emma Stanbanks, Senior Associate and Joint Head of the Care Team took part in the Great Scottish Swim in aid of our charity of the year, the Bodie Hodges Foundation. Emma braved

The ‘Common Law Marriage Myth’ and the Law

The number of unmarried cohabiting couples has almost doubled from 1.5 million in 1996 to 3.3 million in 2017. A recent survey showed as many as two in three cohabiting couples are unaware that there is no

Making a Will

It is important to make a Will to ensure that your estate passes as you wish when you die. Your estate includes your house, money in bank accounts and even your jewellery. If you do not make

Can you go to prison for using a Drone?

The UK has seen a rise on the use of Drones for both fun and commercial use. However as a result of new laws being brought in, people found flying drones above 400ft and within a kilometre

What is a Family Assistance Order?

A Family Assistance Order (FAO) is a short-term order which the Court can grant under Section 16 of the Children Act 1989 requiring a CAFCASS officer or an officer from the Local Authority to advise, assist and

British Court recognises Sharia Law

The High Court has made a ruling recognising Sharia Law for the first time in a British Court. This could change the way Islamic marriage and divorce works in the UK. Mr Khan and Mrs Akhtar’s marriage

What searches are needed if I am buying a property?

Pre-Contract searches reveal additional information about the property you plan to purchase. You can withdraw from the transaction without penalty prior to the exchange, if you discover something about the property you are not happy with. Your solicitor

Prisons are not working…..

“The reformed prisons of the 1800’s with their new emphasis on rehabilitation were invented to destroy the criminal personality and to generate new life and a new law abiding identity. Predicated upon violence the prisons proved successful

Alternative Options to Court in Family Matters

Here at Emery Johnson Astills we understand that going through a divorce or separation can be an emotional and difficult time. It is generally better for everybody involved if arrangements between you can be agreed, this is

Nitrous Oxide & Beyond…

Johnson Astills have seen an increase in the number of cases before the Courts involving newer synthetic drugs. The offences were created by the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 which came into force on 26th May 2016. The

World Cup Penalties

A further “penalty” of the World Cup, which has recently been reported on is the increase of domestic violence and abuse during the tournament. Research undertaken at Lancaster University has shown there is an increase in domestic

Wrongly accused of a Sexual offence?

At Johnson Astills we know how frightening it can be to find yourself under investigation for or charged with a sexual offence. The chances are you will have no previous experience of being interviewed by the police or

12 points on licence exceptional hardship

When a driver accumulates twelve or more penalty points within a three year period, the court will need to consider whether they should be disqualified under the totting up provisions. The Court guidelines state that where a

Leicester Legal Walk 2018

Leicester Legal Walk Many of our staff at Emery Johnson Astills took part in The Leicester Legal Walk yesterday, 4th June 2018. The Walk was 10km around the City of Leicester. Our route took us past many

Stamp Duty Guide

What is stamp duty? Stamp duty is a lump sum that you are liable to pay when you buy a residential property or a piece of land costing more than £250,000.00 (or more than £40,000.00 for second homes). This

First English Forced Marriage Prosecution

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

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?

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

I am buying a property, do I need a Survey?

At a time when you are already spending a lot of money, a survey can seem like a big expense. However due to the rule of ‘caveat emptor’ which stands for ‘buyer beware’ and puts the onus

What is the role of an intermediary in court?

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

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

Duty Solicitors – a Vital Role in Criminal Justice

In a segment on the Victoria Derbyshire show on BBC2 on Tuesday 17 April our Managing Partner and Solicitor Advocate, Helen Johnson appeared to discuss the implications of cuts and fees in criminal matters, particularly in relation

Director of Public Prosecutions resigns

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

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

Top Judge calls for sweeping changes to Divorce Laws

  Britain’s most senior Judge, Sir James Munby has commented that marriage laws are “very badly in need of reform” and has called the current way financial settlements are dealt with as ‘Victorian’ and unfairly biased in

Joint Tenants or Tenants in Common?

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

‘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.’