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

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New Event: Using law and the courts to defend people’s rights – recent cases, developments and third sector involvement

We're organising an afternoon seminar with Human Rights Consortium Scotland on 'Using law & courts to defend rights: recent cases & 3rd sector involvement' on 4th November in Edinburgh - sign up here
My time as a Justice First Fellow

Ahead of welcoming another Justice First Fellowship trainee at Clan Childlaw, we take the opportunity to ask our solicitor, Jenna, about her experience as Justice First Fellow.
Children (Scotland) Bill & Family Justice Modernisation Strategy published

The Scottish Government published the Children (Scotland) Bill on 2nd September to amend the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and other legislation concerning children, and alongside it a Family Justice Modernisation Strategy - here's a quick overview
Launching the Child Law Network!

4th September 2019 - Today Clan Childlaw is excited to launch the Child Law Network, a new resource for anyone interested in Scottish child law.

Launch of the Care Leavers' Law Service

On 18th June 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.
New dedicated Care Leavers' Law Service announced at 10-year 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.
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.
2012 Strategic litigation event

CELCIS, Clan Childlaw and Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People held a joint event in Edinburgh on 25th June 2012, to discuss opportunities for strategic litigation.
Policy Development Unit launched

In November 2011, we launched our evidence-based Policy Development Unit

What we do
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.
Legal Training

Our specialist training ensures you have a good working knowledge of Scottish child law in action, providing essential understanding to help you achieve positive outcomes for your clients.
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
Sibling contact

The law as it currently stands does not allow children and young people to easily address sibling separation and contact, especially care experienced children and young people. We are calling for the law to be changed to prioritise sibling relationships.
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.
Brothers and sisters matter

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.

Legal Training

Our specialist training ensures you have a good working knowledge of Scottish child law in action, providing essential understanding to help you achieve positive outcomes for your clients. Read more

What do we do? Podcasts on why Clan Childlaw was set up and the work we do

This year marks 10 years since Clan Childlaw was set up. In these two podcasts our Chief Executive and Principal Solicitor Alison Reid discusses our origins and the work we do. Read more

Launch of the Care Leavers' Law Service

On 18th June 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