16th June 2022 – 2pm : Litigating for Children and Law Clinics

Litigating for Children and Law Clinics

This seminar will provide a unique opportunity to consider legal practice for children and using the law strategically in their interests, alongside a reflection on the varied roles which law clinics can perform.

Professor Ann Skelton is a leading global expert on children’s rights and a member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. She is also a Visiting Professor at Strathclyde based in the Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures. She is a Professor in the Law Faculty at the University of Pretoria where, through its specialised law clinic at the Centre for Child Law (a University based Centre where she was Director), she conducted a number of influential strategic litigations around children’s rights under the South African constitution. In this seminar, she will speak about her experience in this regard.

Clan Childlaw is Scotland’s Law Centre for Children and Young People. Alison Reid, their Principal Solicitor and Chief Executive will address the whole issue of child-centred practice in the Scottish context and Katy Nisbet, their Legal Policy Manager will look forward to the anticipated incorporation into Scots law of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Strathclyde Law Clinic will present on its current practice and the way in which it involves, trains and empowers its student members, as a counterpoint to Professor Skelton’s law clinic work in South Africa.

Following these presentations there will be an opportunity for questions and discussion.