
Care and adoption
Carol Clelland often represents local authorities and parents in complex cases involving expert evidence, serious non-accidental injury to children, cases involving attempted murder, rape, incest, physical violence, FGM, fabricated and induced illness (FII), parents with serious learning disability, sexual abuse, vulnerable parents, and cases with multiple international elements.
Carol’s work for such a varied client base has provided her with a depth of knowledge of procedure and practice as well as extensive advocacy skills. She regularly represents parties in care cases involving the following: -
- Non-accidental injuries and death
- Sexual abuse
- Child exploitation and trafficking
- Force Marriage/Honour violence
- FMG
- Chronic neglect, drug and alcohol addiction
- Mental health issues and personality disorders
- Domestic Abuse
- Cross-boarder case/ international element
- Special Guardianship
- Adoption
- Secure accommodation
- Discharge of care orders/revocation of placement orders
- Interlocutory applications such as S38 applications/ s34 applications
- Inherent jurisdiction and Wardship
Private law
Carol Clelland is regularly instructed in complex proceedings involving children which include allegations of physical and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence and parental alienation. She is used to handling applications where there has been social work involvement after and regularly represents parties in cases involving:
- R16.4 Guardian - parental alienation/implacable hostility
- Special Guardianship
- Removal from the jurisdiction
- Cross-boarder applications/Hague convention
- Recovery orders
- Specific issue orders / Prohibited Steps Order
- Surrogacy
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Recommendations “Carol helped us through a minefield of legal challenges, without her we don’t know where we would be, she is simply the best” - Client [2019]
“Carol is dogmatic in her determination to seek justice and a formidable force” - Guardian [2019]
“Carol is a safe pair of hands who approaches cases in a sensitive manner to ensure even the most vulnerable can participate to the best of their ability” - Official Solicitor case worker [2019]
Professional bodies
Law Society Children Panel
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Family Law Bar Association
Member of the Association for Lawyers for Children
Women in Family Law