Katy MacFarlane
Katy Macfarlane started off her career as a secondary school teacher of Economics and Accounting. She then graduated with an LLB from Edinburgh University in 1992. From 1999 to 2007, she headed up the Scottish Child Law Centre. Katy is a qualified solicitor, Safeguarder for the Children’s Hearing System, Child Welfare Reporter in family law actions in Edinburgh Sheriff Court and experienced mediator. Between 2002 and 2007, Katy was invited to lecture on LLB courses, and teach on the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (DPLP) and Trainee Continuing Professional Development (TCPD) before being appointed to the academic staff in 2008.
Katy’s areas of interest are Child and Family Law and Mental Health Law. Her publications include: the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 Annotations (W Green); and Thomson’s Family Law in Scotland (8th ed, Bloomsbury Professional). Katy is co-editor of the Family Law Bulletin (W Green).
Katy is regularly invited to speak at conferences on family and child law matters. She is a member of the Scottish Government’s Cross Party Groups on Children and Young People, and Mental Health, and a Trustee on the Board of the Scottish Child Law Centre.