James Fay Solicitors

25/10/2026

ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT?
LIABILITY DISPUTED?

Not every road traffic accident is straightforward. Disputes over who was at fault are common, particularly in these situations.

Country roads: Two vehicles collide on a narrow road. Who crossed the centre line?

Roundabouts: One driver says they were in the correct lane. The other claims they were cut off.

Traffic lights: Both drivers insist they had a green light. What evidence is available to establish what happened?

Reversing accidents: Two vehicles collide while one is reversing. Who was responsible? It depends on the circumstances.

What should you do?
• Photograph the vehicles, damage and road layout.
• Get witness details.
• Check for dashcam footage and nearby CCTV. Act quickly, as footage may be deleted.
• Keep any footage and make a note of what happened.

Don’t assume you have no claim simply because the other driver denies responsibility.

If liability is disputed, get in touch to discuss your options.
Call: 02887658155
Email: [email protected]
www.jamesfaysolicitors.com

18/10/2026

💳 CREDIT CARD CONSUMER PROTECTION: MUST KNOW INFORMATION!

Bought something that went wrong? Your credit card could help you get your money back!

Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, your credit card provider may be held responsible alongside the seller if goods or services aren’t provided as promised, or if you were misled into making a purchase.

Here’s an example. You book a £6,000 family holiday and pay a £200 deposit by credit card. The holiday company goes bust, or you arrive to find the hotel is nothing like the pictures, the facilities you were promised aren’t there, and the holiday is a complete let down.

You could potentially claim your losses from your credit card provider, even though you only paid the deposit by card.

The purchase must have a cash price of more than £100 and no more than £30,000. You don’t need to pay the full amount by credit card. Even a small deposit could qualify.

Certain other credit agreements can also qualify.

Bought a car on finance? You may have rights against the finance company if the car is faulty or was misrepresented, depending on the agreement and circumstances.

Been left out of pocket? Get in touch to find out what options may be available to you.

Call: 02887658155
Email: [email protected]
www.jamesfaysolicitors.com

11/10/2026

BEEN INVITED TO A VOLUNTARY POLICE INTERVIEW?

Don’t be fooled by the word “voluntary”.

Being invited to attend a police station for an interview under caution does not mean the matter is minor or that you have nothing to worry about.

⚖️ Here’s what you need to know:

🔹 The police suspect you of an offence.

🔹 Anything you say during the interview can potentially be used as evidence against you.

🔹 You have the right to free, independent legal advice.

🔹 You should never assume that simply explaining yourself will make the matter go away.

A voluntary police interview, sometimes referred to as a PACE 10 interview, is still a formal police interview. You could end up in court and with a criminal record.

✅ Legal advice and representation at the police station are FREE.

Don’t face police questioning alone. Get the legal advice you are entitled to. Get a solicitor!

📞 Police interview? Get in touch for expert assistance.
Call: 02887658155
Email: [email protected]
www.jamesfaysolicitors.com

07/10/2026

**Job opportunity**
PARALEGAL / LEGAL ASSISTANT

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our team. The successful candidate will assist with the day-to-day running of a busy general practice and will gain experience across a broad range of legal work.

Ideally, candidates will have:
• A law degree and/or at least one year’s experience working in a solicitor’s office;
• Good organisational and administrative skills;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Good IT and computer skills;
• A willingness to learn and develop;
• A professional and friendly approach when dealing with clients;
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle, as the role may involve attending meetings, court and other appointments.

A law degree or previous experience working in a solicitor’s office is preferred but not essential for the right candidate. Full training and support will be provided.

The position can be full-time or part-time, depending on the experience and circumstances of the successful candidate.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to develop their legal career within a busy general practice, with training and practical experience across a broad range of legal work.

Location: Dungannon, Co. Tyrone

Salary: Competitive and dependent on experience.

To apply, please send a covering letter and CV to [email protected]

04/10/2026

NEW DRIVER RULES HAVE CHANGED

New Graduated Driver Licensing rules came into effect in Northern Ireland on 1 October 2026.

Here are some of the key changes for newly qualified drivers:

• R plates must be displayed for 2 years, with different R plate requirements during the first 6 months.

• Drivers under 24 face restrictions on carrying passengers aged 14 to 20 between 11pm and 6am during their first 6 months.

• There are some exceptions to the passenger restriction, including certain journeys involving family members.

• There is no new 45mph speed limit under the new rules.

• The existing 6 penalty point rule continues to apply during the probationary period.

There are also transitional arrangements for some learners who already held a provisional licence before 1 October, so the rules that apply to you may depend on when you started learning.

If you find yourself needing legal assistance following an alleged road traffic offence or an accident, get in touch.
Call: 02887658155
Email: [email protected]
www.jamesfaysolicitors.com

27/09/2026

**Job opportunity**Solicitor**
Conveyancing & Private Client**

James Fay Solicitors is a growing independent law firm based in Dungannon. Due to continued growth, it is seeking to recruit an experienced solicitor to join its team.

The firm is particularly interested in hearing from solicitors with strong experience in conveyancing and wills/probate who are looking for a role within a growing, modern practice.

The Role:

The successful candidate will primarily deal with:
Conveyancing, including sales, purchases and remortgages, residential and commercial
Wills and estate planning
Probate and estate administration
General private client work
Experience in family law and/or civil litigation would be advantageous but is not essential.
There will also be scope for the successful candidate to develop their own areas of interest and undertake a broader range of general practice work where appropriate.

For further details on this position and information on how to apply, please follow the below link:

Explore the pathways to becoming a solicitor, including transfer options for barristers and solicitors, along with the key regulations and oversight involved.

20/09/2026

⚖️ LEGAL MYTH OF THE WEEK ⚖️
“My warranty has expired,
so I have no legal rights.”

Not necessarily!!

A warranty and your legal rights are two different things.

For example, you buy a £700 television. The manufacturer’s 2-year warranty expires, and shortly afterwards the TV develops a fault.

Or perhaps you buy a £20,000 car from a dealer. The dealer’s 3-month warranty has expired, but a significant fault develops a few months later.

In both cases, being told “your warranty has expired” does not necessarily mean that is the end of the matter.

Consumer law can give you rights which exist separately from a warranty.

The important questions are what you bought, who you bought it from, when you bought it and what has gone wrong.

So don’t automatically assume:
Warranty expired = no legal rights.

If a business has told you that you have no rights because your warranty has expired, speak to us before accepting that answer.

Call: 02887658155
Email: [email protected]
www.jamesfaysolicitors.com

13/09/2026

BEING ARRESTED DOESN’T
MEAN YOU’RE GUILTY!
It sounds obvious, but it’s something we have to explain to clients surprisingly often.

If someone reports an offence to the police, the police may, depending on the nature of the allegations, arrest the person accused while they investigate what has allegedly happened.

That does not mean the allegation is true.

It does not mean they have been charged.

It certainly does not mean they are guilty.

And being arrested does not make you a criminal.

A person can be arrested, interviewed and released without charge. They may subsequently be charged and, even then, they can still be found not guilty.

An allegation, an arrest, a charge and a conviction are all very different things.

If you, or someone close to you, has been arrested, get in touch with us. We can help you understand what happens next and guide you through what can be a difficult and uncertain time.

Call: 02887658155
Email: [email protected]
www.jamesfaysolicitors.com

06/09/2026

OWED MONEY? DON’T JUST KEEP CHASING IT!

If someone owes you money and repeated requests for payment have got you nowhere, it may be time to consider taking formal action.

Whether it is a personal debt or money owed to your business, you have options when informal attempts to recover payment have failed.

You may have:
• Sent multiple emails, numerous messages or WhatsApps
• Made repeated phone calls
• Chased payment again and again
• Been promised that payment is “coming”
• Given them more time, only to still receive nothing

But if the money still hasn’t been paid, continuing to chase it informally may simply delay matters.

Depending on the circumstances, legal action may allow you to obtain a County Court Judgment (CCJ), which can then potentially be enforced to recover what you are owed.

The important thing is to take the right steps at the right time and make sure the debt and supporting evidence are properly documented.

If you are owed money and informal attempts to recover it have failed, contact us to discuss your options.

Call: 02887658155
Email: [email protected]
www.jamesfaysolicitors.com

30/08/2026

INJURED AFTER TRIPPING
ON A DEFECTIVE FOOTPATH?

It can happen to anyone. A raised paving slab, pothole or other defect can cause a fall and leave you with a nasty injury.

If the accident happened on a public footpath or road in Northern Ireland, you may have a claim against the authority responsible for maintaining it, including the Department for Infrastructure (DfI).

Whether you have a successful claim will depend on the circumstances of the accident and the condition of the footpath. Evidence of the defect, how long it had been there and whether the authority had been made aware of it can all be important.

If possible, take photographs of the defect as soon as you can. Try to show the size and position of the defect, as well as the surrounding area. This can be valuable if you decide to make a claim.

Public authorities also have certain statutory protections, so these claims can sometimes be more complicated than they first appear.

If you have been injured after tripping on a public footpath, get in touch with us. We can look at what happened and advise you on your next steps.

Call: 02887658155
Email: [email protected]
www.jamesfaysolicitors.com