Friday, 23 October 2009
Prisoners need Help too
At Emmmersons we spend a large part of our time helping victims. We help them obtain a divorce from a violent partner or an injunction to keep a violent or annoying person away.
Just because we also represent those charged with or convicted of criminal offences does not mean we do not understand what it is like to be the survivor of violence or abuse. Some people seem to think that as we represent those charged with criminal offences we have nob understanding of what it is like to be a survivor.
Prisoners are in a very vulnerable position. Prisons are crowded. No matter what you might read or hear they are not pleasant places. Violence is common. The use of drugs is common. Bullying is common.
A Prisoner may have rights but he or she is very much at the mercy of the attitudes and conduct of the prison Officers and the Prison Management. Rights only have value if they are recognised or, if not recognised, are enforced.
Prisoners can be moved away from their family to another part of the country without any explanation. They can be categorised or refused re-categorisation without any or with minimal information.
Trying to communicate with a prisoner can be difficult as his or her post is read, one cannot actually phone in and ask to be put through to a prisoner's cell.
Video conferencing is possible and allows a prisoner to communicate with his solicitor or barrister confidentially.
If you know someone in custody and they have a complaint about how they have been treated then you could suggest that they contact us.
What is it like to be in prison?
Just because we also represent those charged with or convicted of criminal offences does not mean we do not understand what it is like to be the survivor of violence or abuse. Some people seem to think that as we represent those charged with criminal offences we have nob understanding of what it is like to be a survivor.
Prisoners are in a very vulnerable position. Prisons are crowded. No matter what you might read or hear they are not pleasant places. Violence is common. The use of drugs is common. Bullying is common.
A Prisoner may have rights but he or she is very much at the mercy of the attitudes and conduct of the prison Officers and the Prison Management. Rights only have value if they are recognised or, if not recognised, are enforced.
Prisoners can be moved away from their family to another part of the country without any explanation. They can be categorised or refused re-categorisation without any or with minimal information.
Trying to communicate with a prisoner can be difficult as his or her post is read, one cannot actually phone in and ask to be put through to a prisoner's cell.
Video conferencing is possible and allows a prisoner to communicate with his solicitor or barrister confidentially.
If you know someone in custody and they have a complaint about how they have been treated then you could suggest that they contact us.
What is it like to be in prison?
Friday, 25 September 2009
Read all about it!
Our PR company o communications has been working hard at raising our profile and to promote the fact that we have opened an office in Gosforth.
We have appeared in the Northern Echo and in the Journal and the business pages of the Journal Newspaper online.
We have appeared in the Northern Echo and in the Journal and the business pages of the Journal Newspaper online.
Friday, 11 September 2009
Launch Party Update
We have already informed local businesses in Gosforth of what it is we intend doing on 6 October at Opus Gallery, West Avenue Gosforth at 6-30pm. We intend raising money for SSAFA and paying Tribute to our Armed Forces.
If you wish to get involved then contact Michael Robinson at
amrobinson@emmersons-solicitors.co.uk
or contact Bethany Snow on 01912846989 or by email:
gosforth@emmersons-solicitors.co.uk
If you wish to get involved then contact Michael Robinson at
amrobinson@emmersons-solicitors.co.uk
or contact Bethany Snow on 01912846989 or by email:
gosforth@emmersons-solicitors.co.uk
Monday, 17 August 2009
House of Lords debate legal aid
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2009-06-23a.1453.0
It would be wrong for me to suggest that those speaking in the debate don't understand why legal aid is essential or why legal aid should not be the runt of the Social Welfare litter. However I can't help thinking that they don't. All Lord Bach seems worried about is the fact that The Treasury and the Prime Minister have told him "there is no more money". He and his predecessors just accept that and then try to make a litre of need fit into a pint pot.
Why is there an increased demand on legal aid? Legal aid spending is client led. One cannot get paid unless one has a legal aid client. Getting legal aid is not easy. So why do so many qualify? Where has the increase been?
http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/speech110609a.htm/
The main problem is that the Government, Ministry of Justice and Legal Services Commission have decided that the only answer is to cut, cut, cut. Cut the numbers of lawyers doing the work and cut the spending on it. At the same time they introduced Call Centres and so called one stop shops to provide legal advice. They refer to this as "acts of assistance" as if helping people is enough. It is resolving issues that counts and allowing people to access good quality lawyers so they get good quality advice.
There are alternatives
http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/newsandevents/news/view=newsarticle.law?NEWSID=421075/
The latest crazy idea is BVT. It just does not make sense. No-one believes it will work or deliver what the Government, Ministry of Justice or Legal Services commission wants from it. It is a mish-mash of biz-speak, experiment and utter nonsense. http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/bestvaluetendering
It would be wrong for me to suggest that those speaking in the debate don't understand why legal aid is essential or why legal aid should not be the runt of the Social Welfare litter. However I can't help thinking that they don't. All Lord Bach seems worried about is the fact that The Treasury and the Prime Minister have told him "there is no more money". He and his predecessors just accept that and then try to make a litre of need fit into a pint pot.
Why is there an increased demand on legal aid? Legal aid spending is client led. One cannot get paid unless one has a legal aid client. Getting legal aid is not easy. So why do so many qualify? Where has the increase been?
http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/speech110609a.htm/
The main problem is that the Government, Ministry of Justice and Legal Services Commission have decided that the only answer is to cut, cut, cut. Cut the numbers of lawyers doing the work and cut the spending on it. At the same time they introduced Call Centres and so called one stop shops to provide legal advice. They refer to this as "acts of assistance" as if helping people is enough. It is resolving issues that counts and allowing people to access good quality lawyers so they get good quality advice.
There are alternatives
http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/newsandevents/news/view=newsarticle.law?NEWSID=421075/
The latest crazy idea is BVT. It just does not make sense. No-one believes it will work or deliver what the Government, Ministry of Justice or Legal Services commission wants from it. It is a mish-mash of biz-speak, experiment and utter nonsense. http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/bestvaluetendering
Friday, 14 August 2009
Helen Taylor, by any other name, is still a lawyer
Helen Taylor is now known as Helen Martin. This happened a few months ago when she got married.
Some professional women, like Jacqueline Emmerson, keep their maiden name for professional purposes. Jacqueline is known as Mrs Robinson at home.
Some professional women, like Jacqueline Emmerson, keep their maiden name for professional purposes. Jacqueline is known as Mrs Robinson at home.
New Conveyancer
John Coulter is employed by emmersons as a conveyancing Solicitor. We believe that clients should be advised by and have their case conducted by a Solicitor. Other firms and organisations believe that unqualified staff can do the work just as well and so charge lower fees. It all depends what you are after. If you pay a low fee then you are risking quite a lot more than the money you have saved.
You are what matters to us. You may wish to sell a house and move to a new home because you are getting married or starting a family. You may have separated or recently divorced and its time to start over. You may wish to retire and buy your dream home. You may wish to buy a child a home whilst they study at University (what about rental agreements, tax) and then sell it after 3 years.
Maybe you're starting a business and you wish to lease premises or your business is expanding and you require bigger premises.
Whatever the reason you have, our aim is to help you fulfill your dream.
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Launch Party
We hope to hold a Launch party on 6 October 2009 at Opus Gallery http://www.opus-art.com on West Avenue Gosforth to celebrate the opening of our Gosforth office.
The theme for our Launch party will be "A Tribute to HM Forces" and we hope to raise lots of money for SSAFA http://www.ssafa.org.uk Our intention is to invite representatives from local businesses who have served or who have sons or daughters who are serving to our Launch party. Each representative of each business will hopefully bring a cheque to donate to SSAFA.
The theme for our Launch party will be "A Tribute to HM Forces" and we hope to raise lots of money for SSAFA http://www.ssafa.org.uk Our intention is to invite representatives from local businesses who have served or who have sons or daughters who are serving to our Launch party. Each representative of each business will hopefully bring a cheque to donate to SSAFA.
Friday, 31 July 2009
New Office to open
Emmersons has been based in Sunderland since 1998. It was founded by Jacqueline Emmerson
, who is the senior partner.
, who is the senior partner.The Sunderland office is located at 52 John Street Sunderland SR1 1QN telephone 01915676667.mailto:amrobinson@emmersons-solicitors.co.uk
The firm's website is www.emmersons-solicitors.co.uk
The Sunderland office deals mainly with legal aid cases involving Divorce and Contact/Residence cases, Care Proceedings and Crime as well as the private client functions of Conveyancing both Commercial and Residential, Business Advice, Wills and Probate and Estate Planning.
The new office is located at 145 High Street Gosforth NE3 1HA telephone 01912846989.It will be fully-functioning from September this year and will offer private client services in relation to Divorce, Conveyancing both Commercial and Residential, Commercial litigation and Wills and Probate and Estate Planning.
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