10-year anniversary conference: Defending Children's Human Rights in Scotland: Where are we now?

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Sibling rights

We have long called for the law to be changed to prioritise care experienced children and young people's sibling relationships and are delighted that these changes are now law and will come into force in July 2021
Sheriff Court: Children's Panels can instruct DNA tests
Coronavirus - Examples of problems a lawyer can help with

Our lawyers are helping care experienced clients resolve situations where their local authority has not fulfilled their duties to them during the pandemic.
Clan Childlaw welcomes the strengthening of sibling rights in Children's Hearings

Children's Hearings Rules are changing to make sure brothers and sisters can give their views when decisions are being made which affect them seeing each other. Join us to hear more about the Rule changes on 19th April.

Clan Childlaw wins Pro-Bono Award at The Herald Law Awards of Scotland 2019

We are delighted to have won the Pro-Bono award sponsored by the Law Society of Scotland at The Herald Law Awards on Wednesday 27th November.
Launch of the Care Leavers' Law Service

On 18th June 2019 we welcomed nearly 100 colleagues from across the sector to the Lighthouse in Glasgow for an engagement and launch event for our new Care Leavers’ Law Service, a 5-year, Scotland-wide project funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.
Clan Childlaw 10-year Anniversary Parliamentary Reception

On 6th November 2018 we hosted a reception in the Scottish Parliament entitled ‘Clan Childlaw: 10 years of access to justice for children and young people’. We were delighted to announce our new Care Leavers' Law Service at the event.
Clan at 10

Events & Fundraising marking our 10th anniversary
Client successfully challenges relevant person status of grandparents

In CF v MF, GF and Locality Reporter [2017] CSIH 44, our client successfully challenged the relevant person status of her grandparents
Winners of Pro Bono Award at Scottish Legal Awards 2017

We were delighted to be awarded the Pro Bono award at the Scottish Legal Awards 2017
Street Legal launched

Launched in 2016, Street Legal is an innovative partnership project between Clan Childlaw and Rock Trust providing free legal advice and help to young people (up to the age of 26) who are either experiencing, or at risk of homelessness in Edinburgh.
Intervening in AB v Her Majesty's Advocate

We intervened in this case to put forward a child law perspective. The Supreme Court found a provision of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 incompatible with article 8 ECHR.
Intervening in the Named Person case

We intervened as third party to present the children's rights perspective in the Named Person case in the Court of Session and Supreme Court.
5-year anniversary conference: Making Rights Real

In March 2014 Clan Childlaw and CELCIS hosted and innovative and interactive conference promoting adopting a child-centred and integrated children’s rights approach to looked after children, for all those involved in their lives.

What we do

We are lawyers for children and young people in Scotland. We use our legal knowledge, and what we learn from the children we work with, to find ways to make the law work better for children and young people.
Law student essay competition

To mark our 10-year anniversary, we asked law students around Scotland: What is the biggest children’s rights issue in Scotland and how can the law be used to resolve it? Congratulations to winner Michael Malvenda!
Child law case summaries

Summaries of cases undertaken by Clan Childlaw.
Training

We provide lawyer-led training about children's rights and the law in Scotland. We use our legal expertise and experience to train lawyers, advocates, and frontline workers who support children and young people.
Sibling rights

We have long called for the law to be changed to prioritise care experienced children and young people's sibling relationships and are delighted that these changes are now law and will come into force in July 2021
Alison Reid

Principal Solicitor and Chief Executive
Get legal help for a child or young person

Information for professionals, support, advocacy, and advice workers or foster carers seeking help with the law or a legal problem for a child or young person they are working with. You will find frequently asked questions, case studies and other information on this page.
Clan at 10

Events & Fundraising marking our 10th anniversary
A-Z resource library

Comprehensive library of material relating to children and young people's rights. This is reference point for all legal questions and problems children and young people might have.
Changes to the law on siblings

Brothers and sisters who are looked after by a local authority or are experiencing family separation often need support to stay in contact. Clan Childlaw is working in different ways to help promote sibling contact.

Training

We provide lawyer-led training about children's rights and the law in Scotland. We use our legal expertise and experience to train lawyers, advocates, and frontline workers who support children and young people. Read more

Launch of the Care Leavers' Law Service

On 18th June 2019 we welcomed nearly 100 colleagues from across the sector to the Lighthouse in Glasgow for an engagement and launch event for our new Care Leavers’ Law Service, a 5-year, Scotland-wide project funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Read more

UNCRC incorporation in Scotland - our consultation response

28th August 2019 - We are delighted the Scottish Government has committed to incorporating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law. Read our response to the public consultation. Read more

What changes are there to children’s hearings during Covid-19?

New laws have been put in place for children’s hearings and for looked after children during Covid-19. This blog explains what it means. Read more

Courts Update

Read about what to expect if you are involved in a case in the Scottish courts. Read more