Children’s Rights in Scotland: Using the law to advance policy – Project Report

Read our recent Project Report on our project “Children’s Rights in Scotland: Using the law to advance policy”, which is funded by the Baring Foundation’s Strengthening the Voluntary Sector Programme. The report looks at the project over the 2016-17 grant period. The grant provided a resource for the Strategic Litigation Group Clan Childlaw has coordinated since 2012.

We are delighted to have continuing support from the STVS programme to continue the project until 2020.

Project: Children’s Rights in Scotland: Using the law to advance policy

Latest

Two Vacancies: Trainee Solicitor and NQ solicitor

Clan Childlaw is currently recruiting a trainee solicitor and a NQ solicitor - the application deadline for both roles is Sunday, May 26, 2019 at midnight
Vacancies

We are recruiting a trainee solicitor and an NQ solicitor. Deadline: 26th May
New child-friendly court forms to be used to seek children's views in family and civil partnership actions from June

Following work coordinated by Fiona Jones in her role as member of the Family Law Committee of the Scottish Civil Justice Council, new child-friendly forms will be used to seek the views of children in family and civil partnerships actions from 24th June 2019.
Clan Childlaw welcomes Minister for Children and Young People's announcement of plans to improve the law for brothers and sisters in the care system

Clan Childlaw has welcomed Minister for Children and Young People Maree Todd MSP's announcement of plans to strengthen law for siblings in care system at a conference in Glasgow today.

Vacancies

We are recruiting a trainee solicitor and an NQ solicitor. Deadline: 26th May
New child-friendly court forms to be used to seek children's views in family and civil partnership actions from June

Following work coordinated by Fiona Jones in her role as member of the Family Law Committee of the Scottish Civil Justice Council, new child-friendly forms will be used to seek the views of children in family and civil partnerships actions from 24th June 2019.
Brothers & Sisters Matter: Delivering Sibling Contact for Looked After Children

We're really excited about our conference organised together with Siblings Reunited (STAR) today in Glasgow!
Stand Up for Siblings anniversay!

It's one year since SUFS was launched! It's been a busy year!
Supreme Court judgment on the disclosure of criminal records - Clan Childlaw press release

30 January 2019: Today the UK Supreme Court issued its judgment in 3 cases relating to the disclosure of criminal records in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. Clan Childlaw intervened in these cases to explain the Scottish system in relation to the disclosure of childhood offending behaviour.
Results of our 10-year anniversary children's rights essay competition

Back in May, to mark our 10-year anniversary, we set law students the challenge of identifying the biggest children's rights issue in Scotland and how the law can be used to resolve it. Congratulations to the winner Michael Malvenda and runners-up Ruari Peoples and Hannah Smethurst!
Judgment in Sibling Contact Case in relation to Children's Hearings – Clan Childlaw Press Release – 27 November 2018

In ABC against Principal Reporter & the Lord Advocate, the Inner House of the Court of Session today decided that the current way that the children’s hearings system considers brothers and sisters is compatible with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. This case involved our client, a 14 year old who wanted to have a say in decisions made about his brother at children’s hearings. Lucy Frazer, solicitor for the child said: “We are disappointed by this decision." ...
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.
Event: 'Using the law to advance rights: Overcoming barriers and creating opportunities', 22nd November, Edinburgh

We're co-organising this event with Human Rights Consortium Scotland and Amnesty Scotland to discuss using law and litigation to make rights real in Scotland.
Children (Scotland) Act 1995 Review: our consultation response

Read our response the Scottish Government consultation Review of Part 1 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and creation of a family justice modernisation strategy

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!
Workshop: Sibling contact

Learn more about how you can facilitate sibling contact for looked after children.
Child law case summaries

Summaries of cases undertaken by Clan Childlaw.
Our 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 Childlaw turns 10

Find out more about what we're doing to mark #clanat10
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.

Our 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

Stand Up for Siblings - launch of new partnership

'Stand up for Siblings' is being launched today to raise awareness of sibling separation and contact and the impact on looked after children and young people. The partnership aims to improve and change law, policy and practice. Read more