Alison Reid

Alison was enrolled as a solicitor in 1996. She worked in civil litigation in private practice for four years before being employed as a Reporter to the Children’s Hearings. Having recognised the need for a specialist, outreach, legal representation service for children and young people in Scotland, Alison co-founded Clan Childlaw in 2008 and continues to be employed as its Chief Executive and Principal Solicitor. During her tenure, Clan has been involved in four supreme court cases defending children’s rights and won awards in the Pro Bono category of the 2017 Scottish Legal Awards and 2019 The Herald Law Awards of Scotland.  Alison leads on the delivery of the pioneering Lawyers For Children Certification Course with the Law Society of Scotland, which was launched in 2024. 

Alison is a member of the Scottish Civil Justice Council Family Law Committee.  She is a court reporter and curator ad litem in relation to contact and residence disputes in the sheriff court and a curator ad litem and reporting officer in relation to adoption and permanence proceedings. She has experience as a safeguarder in the children’s hearings system, and as a member of the Law Society of Scotland’s Access to Justice Committee.  Alison is a Law Society of Scotland Certified Specialist in Trauma Informed Practice.

Alison loves most sports and enjoys camping and walking in the Scottish hills.