Johnston Ryan Legal

Home
Australia
Coburg, VIC
Johnston Ryan Legal

Your legal big sister in Melbourne/Naarm. Civil + criminal law, personal safety + family violence matters. Please get in touch with us to find out more.

Welcome to Johnston Ryan Legal, based in Melbourne/Naarm, Victoria. Led by Founding Principal Rebecca Johnston-Ryan, we specialise in criminal law, personal safety matters, and family violence matters. We have witnessed first hand the barriers that often deter people from seeking essential legal help. Our mission is deeply rooted in a commitment to making legal support accessible for everyone. We offer flexible pricing options to ensure high-quality legal support is accessible to all, especially those facing financial challenges.

15/10/2026

A Binding Financial Agreement (sometimes called a prenup) is a legal contract that sets out how property and finances will be divided if a relationship ends.

A good BFA in the early stages of a relationship or marriage, with reviews and updates throughout, can help create shared expectations about the division of assets and how to resolve disputes if the relationship goes south.

Done properly, it means open conversations about money, and each person must get their own independent legal advice before signing.

That process can tell you a lot.

Pay attention if your partner:

👉 Hides or won’t disclose assets, debts or income
👉 Rushes you or sets a deadline to sign
👉 Gets angry, or punishes you, when you ask questions
👉 Discourages you from getting your own legal advice, or wants to choose your lawyer
👉 Proposes terms that would leave you with almost nothing, or financially dependent on them

Financial control is a form of family violence, and it’s often one of the first signs.

If your partner pushed back on being open about money, would you know what to make of it?

At Johnston Ryan Legal, we can prepare and update BFAs and give you independent advice.

Reach out to us today for a no-cost, no-obligation chat about your rights. 💚

12/10/2026

Two years ago today, Victoria changed the law on strangulation.

On October 13th 2024, “Joy’s Law” came into effect, following the death of Joy Rowley.

Joy, a 60-year-old mother of three, was killed by James Mulhall at her home in Rye in 2011. Eight months earlier, she had reported to police that he choked her to the point of unconsciousness and threatened to kill her.

At the time of her death, he was facing charges over that incident and was bound by an intervention order.

A coronial inquest later heard that Victoria Police had breached its own family violence policies in her case. Police apologised to her family, and the coroner supported creating a stand-alone strangulation offence.

RIP Joy Rowley. You were failed by a system meant to protect you, like so many women before you, and sadly, after you.

If you are experiencing family violence, reach out to Orange Door, Safe Steps or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency, call 000.

If you need legal support to protect yourself, reach out to Johnston Ryan Legal. 💚

11/10/2026

New frontline data from Berry Street shows that, over the past two years, there has been an average 56% increase in victim-survivors seeking help in the week immediately following the grand final weekend.

Each year, Victoria Police prepares for a 20% increase in family violence call-outs on AFL Grand Final day.

In this article for Women’s Agenda, Mandy Gambino, Acting Director, Family Violence at Berry Street Yooralla, lays bare the reality faced by too many women after the siren sounds.

Read it here: https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/family-violence-services-report-56-rise-in-help-seeking-in-the-week-after-grand-finals/

09/10/2026

It’s rare that anyone ever WANTS to speak to a lawyer. It’s not usually high up on anyone’s bucket list. It’s expensive. 💰 It’s stressful. 😥 It’s intimidating. 😶‍🌫️

At Johnston Ryan Legal, speaking with a lawyer can feel like having a chat with someone you trust.

Our Principal, Rebecca Johnston-Ryan, is guided by the belief that the law should be empowering, not diminishing. And it definitely shouldn’t be financially out of reach.

Beck provides honest guidance, frank advice, and a space where you can feel safe to open up. And there’s no pressure to move forward if you’re not ready.

When you are ready, Beck is here. Reach out anytime. 💚

🌐 www.johnstonryanlegal.com.au

07/10/2026

In a sea of endless devastating and infuriating headlines about family violence, finally something positive to reflect on. 💚

South Australia recently became the first state in Australia to pass alcohol delivery reforms aimed at improving safety for women and children, with the Liquor Licensing (Royal Commission Recommendations) Amendment Bill passing Parliament.

Under the new rules, alcohol delivery will be restricted to 10am-10pm, with a mandatory 2-hour safety pause between order and delivery.

Alcohol is linked to up to 65% of reported domestic and family violence incidents, and on-demand home delivery greatly increases harm.

The 2-hour safety pause and delivery window directly disrupt easy, rapid access and the pattern that follows.

Why is this such a big step forward?

Not only will these reforms help make South Australian homes safer for women and children, but they also establish an important precedent for other states to follow.

Seeing expert recommendations turn into legislative change is exactly what should be happening nationwide.

Let’s hope other states and territories follow swiftly. 🤞

Read more about the changes here: https://www.miragenews.com/south-australia-sets-landmark-alcohol-law-1744372/

06/10/2026

If you’re scared of what might happen if you call the police on your partner, you’re not alone.

A high-profile alleged perpetrator of family violence in South East Queensland was recently refused bail by the Maroochydore Magistrates' Court. So how does the bail process work for family violence cases here in Victoria?

Upon arrival, police will assess the situation and can take immediate steps to keep you safe, including issuing an on-the-spot safety notice or applying for a Family Violence Intervention Order (FVIO). If they believe it’s necessary, they can arrest your partner.

If they’re arrested, here’s what happens next.

They won’t simply be released. A bail decision-maker must assess whether letting them go creates a risk of harming you and/or your kids again.

This is guided by a structured, evidence-based risk assessment.

If they’re found to pose what the law calls an “unacceptable risk”, bail is refused, and they stay in custody until the matter goes before a court.

Victoria’s bail laws were significantly strengthened after the Bourke Street Mall tragedy in 2017, meaning the threshold for release is genuinely high when someone is considered dangerous.

Family violence is complicated. When you’re hurt by someone who you believe loves you, it’s not easy to picture them in custody. It’s even harder when they’ve made you feel like the problem, or like no one will believe you. That confusion is exactly why so many victims stay silent.

If your safety, or anyone else’s, is at risk, call the police. Whether that leads to an arrest or an intervention order keeping your partner away from you, the law exists to protect you.

12/09/2026

Work in the adult entertainment industry is real work.

Workers in the adult entertainment industry deserve the same workplace protections we all do.

And work in the adult entertainment industry does not come with an expectation that workers should expect or put up with assault - even if the alleged perpetrator happens to be a football god.

New episode of Your Legal Big Sister covering the Sydney Swans' sexual assault allegations is available now wherever you listen to podcasts.

🔗 https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SOZsfeWJhf6CEYLJr1yeS

11/09/2026

The AFL’s response to the Sydney Swans’ sexual assault allegations has been weak as p**s.

Bonus episode of Your Legal Big Sister is available now. It covers what we know about the alleged incident, how the public conversation has failed the women involved, and why footy culture keeps protecting the wrong people.

Like and share! 🙏

🔗 https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SOZsfeWJhf6CEYLJr1yeS

25/08/2026

International Dog Day is the perfect time to introduce you to the newest member of the Johnston Ryan Legal team: CRUMPET! 😍

Despite only being with us for a couple of weeks, Crumpet has already taken to her duties extremely well. These include (but are certainly not limited to) accepting/demanding pats from everyone she meets, snacking, snoozing, and being absolutely adorable. 💚

Wishing you and your perfect pooches a very happy International Dog Day! 🐾

20/08/2026

If you’re experiencing family violence, concerns about your living situation can make an already overwhelming situation even harder. You may be worried about ending your lease, losing your bond or having nowhere else to go.

In Victoria, you may be able to apply to VCAT to:

• end your rental agreement early without paying the usual lease-break costs
• stay in the property under a new agreement that does not include the person using violence
• have a new agreement created even if your name is not currently on the lease

If your home no longer feels safe, you don’t have to navigate your legal options alone. Contact Johnston Ryan Legal for clear, compassionate advice about your next steps. 💚

🔗 www.johnstonryanlegal.com.au

Address

Sydney Road
Coburg, VIC
3058

Website

http://www.johnstonryanlegal.com.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Johnston Ryan Legal posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Johnston Ryan Legal:

Want your practice to be the top-listed law practice in Coburg?