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  1. Creating change
  2. Policy

Policy

Our Policy Development Unit aims to improve outcomes for children and young people by contributing to policy development in relation to the realisation of their rights across Scotland. We are uniquely placed to base our policy work on the evidence gathered from our direct legal representation of children and young people. We use our legal knowledge, skills and expertise to advance policy and its implementation.

We provide briefings, respond to government consultations and give expert written and oral evidence to parliamentary committees on issues which have implications for children and young people.

We work collaboratively with many other organisations and individuals on a range of child law issues and are always keen to hear from anyone who thinks they might want to work with us on a particular issue. If you would like to get in touch, please email our Legal Policy Manager, Janet Cormack on [email protected]

Access to justice & legal aid

Access to justice & legal aid

Children and young people's rights can only be secured through proper access to justice. Access to legal aid must be independent and confidential. Read more

Published: 4th December, 2017

Updated: 16th August, 2021

Author: Janet Cormack

Care Leavers' Rights

Care Leavers' Rights

Although the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 introduced new care leavers' rights into law, many care leavers are not getting what they are entitled to and we have noticed many problems in the implementation of these rights and disparities between different local authority areas. Read more

Published: 31st July, 2019

Updated: 19th October, 2021

Author: Deleted User

Children (Scotland) Act 2020

Children (Scotland) Act 2020

The Children (Scotland) Act 2020 introduces important changes to how legal proceedings involving children are conducted and creates new duties in relation to brothers and sisters in care, something Clan Childlaw has called for for many years. Read more

Published: 31st July, 2018

Updated: 19th October, 2021

Author: Janet Cormack

Consultation Responses & Parliamentary Evidence

Consultation Responses & Parliamentary Evidence

Click here to find public consultation responses and evidence provided by our team to the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and UK Parliament Read more

Published: 21st September, 2020

Updated: 27th June, 2022

Author: Deleted User

Impact of childhood offending behaviour later in life

Impact of childhood offending behaviour later in life

The law on criminal records checks has recently changed in Scotland to better reflect the very different nature of childhood offending behaviour from adult offending. Once it takes effect, the new system will better protect a child's right to grow up and move on from past mistakes. We worked to influence new legislation. Read more

Published: 5th December, 2017

Updated: 2nd December, 2020

Author: Janet Cormack

Incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, currently before Scottish Parliament, would 'fully and directly' bring the UNCRC into Scots law. The legislation would mean public authorities and the law must respect and protect UNCRC rights. Read more

Published: 20th September, 2020

Updated: 25th May, 2022

Author: Deleted User

Minimum age of criminal responsibility

Minimum age of criminal responsibility

The minimum age of criminal responsibility, currently 8 years old in Scotland, is to be raised to 12 under the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019 Read more

Published: 4th December, 2017

Updated: 19th October, 2021

Author: Janet Cormack

Right to privacy & the Named Person scheme

Right to privacy & the Named Person scheme

It is essential that children and young people's privacy rights are protected when professionals share information under the Named Person scheme. We intervened in the Supreme Court 'Named Person' case to put forward the children's rights perspective. Read more

Published: 4th December, 2017

Updated: 28th April, 2021

Author: Janet Cormack

Sibling rights

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 Read more

Published: 26th February, 2021

Updated: 10th November, 2021

Author: Janet Cormack

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Showing 10 of 9

Latest

  • Clan Childlaw secures funding to ensure young people in conflict with the law have their rights respected

    Clan Childlaw secures funding to ensure young people in conflict with the law have their rights respected

    We are delighted to share that Clan Childlaw has secured funding from The Promise Partnership for the Rights In-Justice project.

  • New regulations allow siblings to apply for legal aid

    New regulations allow siblings to apply for legal aid

    23 Jan 2023 | From today, new regulations will allow siblings to apply for legal aid for a lawyer to represent them at their sibling’s Children’s Hearings.

  • Festive Opening Hours 2022

    Festive Opening Hours 2022

    Our lawyers are still here to help over Christmas and New Year, but our opening hours will be a bit different.

  • What we do

    What we do

    Clan Childlaw is Scotland's law centre for children and young people. We protect and strengthen children’s rights and improve their lives.

Most read

  • Access to Records

    Access to Records

  • What changes will the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 make for children and young people?

    What changes will the Children (Scotland) Act 2020 make for children and young people?

    The Children (Scotland) Act 2020 improves legal protection for children's right to be heard in courts and children's hearings and their right to a family life with their brothers and sisters - this blog explains the changes it will make

  • What we do

    What we do

    Clan Childlaw is Scotland's law centre for children and young people. We protect and strengthen children’s rights and improve their lives.

  • Vacancies

    Vacancies

    We have no current vacancies.

  • Sibling rights

    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

  • Changes to the Law for Brothers and Sisters

    Changes to the Law for Brothers and Sisters

    On 26 July 2021, the law changed on what local authorities and Children’s Hearings have to do to support brothers and sisters.

  • Child law case summaries

    Summaries of cases undertaken by Clan Childlaw.

  • UNCRC in Scotland: What does the UK Government’s legal challenge mean?

    UNCRC in Scotland: What does the UK Government’s legal challenge mean?

    Our Legal Policy Manager Janet Cormack explains what has happened so far with UNCRC in Scotland and what could happen next.

  • Are you a child or young person without British citizenship? Here’s some advice on how to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme

    Are you a child or young person without British citizenship? Here’s some advice on how to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme

    Children and young people, including care leavers, must apply to the EU Settlement scheme if they are an EU, EEA or Swiss national. The deadline to apply is 30 June 2021.

  • What age do I have to be to get a lawyer?

    What age do I have to be to get a lawyer?

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Free legal advice and representation for children and young people in Scotland

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Company Limited by Guarantee No. 335011. Registered Charity Number: SC039156. Registered in Scotland, Community Law Advice Network, Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5QY.

Offices also located at Clan Childlaw Ltd, Wellpark Enterprise Centre, 120 Sydney St, Glasgow, G31 1JF

Call us:  0808 1290 522 
Text us: 0752 756 6682
Email us: [email protected]
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