115 multi-agency professionals, volunteers and decision makers joined us online on 15 January to hear about a new guide on the key role solicitors play in Children’s Hearings, co-produced by Hearings-experienced young people, solicitors and other adults involved in Hearings.
The audience heard inputs from Lisa Mason, Our Hearings, Our Voice (OHOV) board member, Gordon Main, OHOV Lead, Rebecca Scott from Clan ChildLaw and Nicola Hadden from Children’s Hearings Scotland.
The overall aim of this work is to promote solicitor best practice in Children’s Hearings in line with what children tell us is important to them and ensure children are aware of their rights to a solicitor.
Upholding the rights of children in their Hearings requires a unique skill set. There are many examples of good practice by solicitors and of children who have positive experiences of lawyers representing them. The purpose of this work is to highlight this good practice, promote better understanding of the solicitor’s role, the child’s right to a solicitor and how a solicitor can help them.
Read the detailed version of the guide and the shorter top tips version.