Expanding Leicester-based law firm Emery Johnson opens Coalville office
A law firm will open its third office next month to deal with a rise in the amount of care work it has taken on.
Emery Johnson is setting up a practice in Coalville town centre, to add to its offices in Welford Road, Leicester - its headquarters - and Loughborough.
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Helen Johnson
The office will be in The Springboard Centre and be dedicated to dealing with cases involving social services.
The firm will base two solicitors there full-time, plus several support staff, including one new employee.
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Emma Mitchell, a partner at the firm, said: "We looked at where the cases were coming from and it was in this area of the county.
"We do a lot of care work in that area where we act for the children in the local authority proceedings.
"It makes sense to have an office on the doorstep to which parents and social workers can come easily.
"Since the case of Baby P, there has been a rising number of applications by local authorities – that is obviously not just in the East Midlands.
"We are in a recession and what tends to happen is not just crime but care proceedings increase.
"We tend to see more cases of neglect and domestic violence between partners."
Ms Mitchell said The Springboard Centre, which has small, managed business units, was an ideal base while the firm put down roots in Coalville.
She said: "We are dipping our toe into it at the moment and while we are starting off with the sole purpose of doing local authority work, we may expand on that.
"We are optimistic about it – it may be that we have our own full- blown base in Coalville eventually.
"The centre is great because we are very central and it is a real community hub."
Emery Johnson was started 20 years ago by then 29-year-old single mother Helen Johnson, using a modest loan.
Today, the firm, which turns over about £1.2 million, employs 32 people.
Ms Johnson has placed importance on employing staff who speak a wide range of languages, including Cantonese, Hindi and Polish.
The firm specialises in criminal and family law.
However, unlike many other firms in the area, it does not undertake personal injury, property, business or tax law matters.
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