ACEs documentary to be screened for Glasgow lawyers

Members of the legal profession and the judiciary are being invited to an event in Glasgow that will examine what new research into childhood adversity means for the justice system.

A screening of Resilience, a groundbreaking documentary which explores the science of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), has been organised on Monday 12 November by the family law team at Harper Macleod in conjunction with the charity Children 1st. It will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Mary Glasgow, CEO of Children 1st, researcher Dr Suzanne Zeedyk, and Janys Scott QC.

Childhood adversity is now understood to have far reaching consequences for adults, and ACEs are believed to have lifelong effects on both health and behaviour. The research has implications for the justice system, both in terms of seeing adults enter it who have had ACEs in their personal history and in dealing with cases involving children generally.

The free event, from 10am-1pm at the Hilton Glasgow, aims to raise awareness of ACEs within the context of justice, and to consider how solicitors, other legal professionals and the judiciary can develop a more trauma informed approach to practice and policy.

Nadine Martin, an associate in the Family Law team at Harper Macleod, commented: "In our own work we are only too aware of the impact of childhood adversity. It's an important issue which is increasingly being taken on board across all sectors dealing with children, from social work and medicine to education and politics.

"It is crucial that the legal professions understand the part ACEs may have played in someone's life, and the importance of minimising trauma when dealing with cases involving children, so that their future lives are not negatively impacted. The science is now there to help us understand and deal with ACEs in a much more informed way."

Dr Suzanne Zeedyk has highlighted how important ACE awareness is in the legal profession. She said: "We need lawyers (and everybody else) who are able and willing to feel these things – because they don’t let their job disconnect them from their own humanity."

To attend the event, please register your interest with Nadine Martin (e: Nadine.martin@harpermacleod.co.uk).

You can find out more about the film at www.kpjrfilms.co/resilience