Alison Reid

The award has been created as part of the Law Society’s 75th anniversary celebrations and has been presented to individuals that have been recognised as offering significant contributions to Scotland’s legal sector.

Clan Childlaw is the only charity in Scotland that provides child-centred legal representation exclusively for children and young people. It was founded in 2008 by Ms Reid and Fiona Jones “to provide children with their own lawyers who do things differently, providing outreach legal services that prioritise what the child needs”.

Ms Reid said: “I am delighted to have been recognised with this award, and that the importance of child-centred legal services has been recognised. I am pleased that our specialised approach to working as lawyers for children and young people is seen as making a significant contribution to Scotland’s legal sector.

“This year we have seen incorporation of UNCRC into Scots’ Law, and more children will seek to claim their rights, and we are breaking new ground again by creating learning opportunities for practicing lawyers and law students interested in developing a child-centred practice.  We want to see a Scotland where every child that needs a lawyer can get a lawyer for children.”