Personal Law

Laura Ousby Solicitor Every parent wants the best for their child…but sometimes in the emotional turmoil of a divorce, that natural protective instinct can become a little blurred. It means that in some cases, children are caught in the cross fire between warring couples.  They can feel as though they are being overlooked and that their views are not being taken into account. A survey by the family law group…

By Carol Fish Director and Head of Serious Injury Department When a child is injured at school can the school be held liable and as a result compensation claimed? In the recent case of Pook v Rossall School 2018 EWHC 522 (QB) this very point was raised. This case involved a pupil who having been encouraged to run to her sports lesson, slipped on some mud and fell injuring her elbow.…

By Laura Ousby Solicitor One of the most common questions I am asked when I meet parents who are going through separation or divorce and are looking to make arrangements for contact with their child is “what is normal?” My usual response is that there is no “normal”.  Every family is unique and to suggest something is “normal” can lead parents to make arrangements that are unsuitable and do not…

By Julian Nelson, Director & Head of Family Law Pre-ups used to be associated mainly with the rich and famous, but they’re now being used by couples from all walks of life. They are particularly popular with people entering second marriages who want to safeguard their assets for their children from a previous relationship. People who have inherited money or perhaps been awarded compensation for an injury or employment claim…

By Carol Fish Director & Head of Personal Injury A musician has been awarded £64,000 compensation after suffering injuries to his hip in a road accident. The collision happened when he was riding his scooter on a main road and was attempting to turn right on to a minor road.  He was hit by a 4×4 vehicle entering the main road from the minor road. He fell and landed heavily…

THE focus of the agricultural world was tuned into a unique event which tackled challenges and opportunities in the sector against the backdrop of an uncertain post-Brexit economy. More than 125 people packed into The Shepherd’s Inn at Rosehill, Carlisle, for the Future Proof Farming event, which was a collaboration between four major organisations. Legal firm Cartmell Shepherd joined forces with accountants Armstrong Watson, The Cumberland Building Society and The…

By Laura Ousby, Solicitor A Child Arrangements Order is a court order regulating arrangements with whom a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact and when a child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact with any person and is usually the last resort when arrangements cannot be agreed amicably. It is most common for such Orders to be made between mums and dads. The…

By Joanne Stronach Head of Employment & HR The government is introducing a new Code of Practice that will place a legal duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. The code will contain several measures including protections for volunteers and interns. The government says it wants to introduce the code so employers better understand their legal responsibilities to protect their staff. The new measures will be put…

By Rebecca Adams, Solicitor The Court of Protection has appointed a deputy to look after the interests of a woman who lacked capacity to manage her property and affairs. The woman was 71 and prior to becoming ill, had not set up a Lasting Power of Attorney, which would have enabled her to appoint someone in advance to look after her affairs if she became unable to do so herself.…

By Sally Irving Trainee Solicitor Under the law of England and Wales, there is only one ground for divorce: the irretrievable breakdown of a marriage. Most think that this alone is enough to make them eligible for a divorce – it’s not. Evidence needs to be provided to the Court to show that the marriage has broken down irretrievably and this is done by proving one of five facts: Adultery…