Association Of Lawyers For Children (Alc)

The Association of Lawyers for Children (“ALC”) is a national association of lawyers working in the field of children law. It has over 1,000 members, mainly solicitors and family law barristers who represent children, parents and other adult parties, or local authorities. Other legal practitioners and academics are also members. Its Executive Committee members are drawn from a wide range of experienced practitioners from both sides of the legal profession practising in different areas of the country. Several leading members are specialists with over 20 years’ experience in children law, including local government legal services. Many have written books and articles and lectured about aspects of children law and hold judicial office. The ALC exists to promote access to and equality of justice for children and young people within the legal system in England and Wales in the following ways: i. lobbying in favour of establishing properly funded legal mechanisms to enable all children and young people to have access to justice; ii. lobbying against the diminution of such mechanisms; iii. campaigning and advocating on against any form of discrimination which may affect children within the family justice system iv. providing high quality legal training, focusing on the needs of lawyers and non-lawyers concerned with cases relating to the rights, welfare, health and development of children; v. providing a forum for the exchange of information and views on the development of the law in relation to children and young people; vi. being a reference point for members of the profession, governmental organisations and pressure groups interested in children law and practice; and vii. funding or co-funding research where we perceive gaps in knowledge or evidence relating to changes in policy and practice in children proceedings. The ALC is a stakeholder in respect of all government consultations pertaining to law and practice in the field of children.