Specialist groups
The Legal Groups
About the Legal Group
The legal aspects of planning for looked after children are complex and require close co-operation with social workers and health professionals. BAAF's legal groups (one for England & Wales, another for Scotland) facilitate understanding and information exchange between lawyers, social workers and others concerned with adoption, fostering and the welfare of children. They consider and comment on legal and legal/social issues, assist professionals in keeping up to date with legislation and arrange conferences and training in their regions.
About the Legal Group Advisory Committee
The Legal Group Advisory Committee aims to consider, comment and advise BAAF on legal, social and procedural issues relating to adoption, fostering and the welfare of children and support for their families. It provides members with the chance to keep abreast of relevant legislation, a forum to explore issues in more depth and the opportunity to network with fellow practitioners.
The Committee consists of 21 nominated representatives from the Legal Group. It meets quarterly at BAAF Head Office and also holds an annual meeting and seminar for all members of the Legal Group.
Membership is free and open to:
“Membership of BAAF's legal group is essential for anyone professionally involved with the law relating to children looked after and being placed for adoption.”
His Honour Judge Peter Urquhart |
- Legal advisers to corporate members of BAAF.
- Nominated representatives of corporate members that do not have a legal adviser.
- Individual BAAF members who are solicitors, barristers, judges or law graduates.
- Individual BAAF members who are qualified by experience in the law relating to adoption, fostering or the welfare of children, e.g. children's guardians, curators ad litem, social workers, probation officers and magistrates.
We recommend that legal advisers to member agencies also become individual members of BAAF to ensure that they receive our publications, including the peer-reviewed quarterly Adoption & Fostering.
There is an annual Legal Group meeting and seminar. Regional sections of the group also organise events around the UK. Members elect an advisory committee which meets quarterly.
The Scottish Legal Group, founded in 1989, serves members with an interest in child care law in Scotland. It is serviced by a legal consultant in our Scottish Centre at 40 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh EH2 4RT.
Phone 0131 225 9285 or email scotland@baaf.org.uk for more information.
The Secretary for the Group for England, Wales & Northern Ireland, Alexandra Conroy Harris, will also be happy to answer any questions you may have. Please email lucy.abercrombie@baaf.org.uk, phone +44 020 7421 2648 or fax +44 020 7421 2601.
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