Location: Edinburgh or Glasgow

We operate hybrid working with the opportunity to work from home some of the time. The role will also require travel between our office locations and regular attendance at court and children’s hearings in different areas of Scotland.

Working Hours: 35 hours.

Salary: Commensurate with Experience

Contract Type: Permanent

About the role

We are seeking an enthusiastic and committed Policy and Strategic Litigation Lawyer to join our team and strengthen Clan’s work at the forefront of using the law to change children’s lives in Scotland. Clan Childlaw has successfully used strategic litigation and influencing the law to tackle a number of issues affecting children in Scotland including sibling rights, right to privacy, access to justice, voice of the child, minimum age of criminal responsibility, impact of childhood offending in later life, and care leavers rights. We are committed to delivering on The Promise Scotland and to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

If you are looking for an exceptional opportunity to be part of strategic litigation that improves the lives of children and young people in Scotland and aims to strengthen children’s rights and achieve lasting systemic change then we want to hear from you.

This role includes undertaking strategic litigation, and contributing to our work influencing policy, practice and law to advance children’s rights in Scotland. Working closely with the Principal Solicitor, Director of Legal and Policy and Head of Legal and Policy, the postholder will manage a caseload of complex, and high-profile child and public law strategic litigation, contribute to policy work, and work collaboratively with external stakeholders to influence lasting change that improves the lives of children and young people in Clan’s strategic areas.

About You

This role would suit someone with significant litigation experience and a demonstrable commitment to children’s rights and social justice. You will be motivated by the opportunity to undertake impactful, values-driven legal work that makes real change in the lives of children and young people

You will be a highly effective litigation lawyer with excellent problem solving skills, who thrives on challenging and varied work. You will be able to deliver on a range of competing priorities. You will be an excellent communicator who is resilient and adaptable, with the ability to manage sensitive and high-profile matters while maintaining high professional standards and a client-centred approach. You will have experience of collaborative working to influence change and demonstrable ability to build effective working relationships with colleagues, clients, and external stakeholders. You will also be committed to reflective practice, continuous learning, and contributing positively to a supportive and collaborative team culture.

About Clan Childlaw

Clan wants a Scotland where all children and young people’s rights are respected, protected, and fulfilled. For that to happen, Scotland has to be a place where all children and young people can stand up for their rights. We work to ensure children and young people have:

• Lawyers that are experts in working with children
• People around them who can enable them to use their rights and amplify their voices 
• To be respected as rights-holders, who are entitled to hold duty-bearers to account if their rights are not fulfilled. 
What We Do 
To find out more about what we do you can visit our website: About Clan Childlaw - Clan Childlaw

Our Values

Our values are the principles we uphold in all our work, no matter what. They are the foundation of our workplace culture. Everyone who works at Clan shows our values in all they do and say. 
We are supportive: We listen and respond, we provide encouragement and emotional help to children and young people, to others who support young people, and to each other.
We are bold: We are confident and courageous in amplifying the voices of children and young people. We are prepared to take risks when we need to, to defend children and young people’s rights. 
We are dynamic: We are always active, always progressing. We are positive, full of energy and new ideas. We ask for change where it is needed.
“I love my job at Clan. It’s busy and varied and no two days are ever the same. We have a great team here and everyone is really supportive.” - A member of the Clan Childlaw team

What we can offer you

Clan Childlaw’s mission is very important to us, but our people are important too. We recognise the importance of a good work-life balance and a friendly supportive work environment. We offer:

• 33 days annual leave (inclusive of public holidays) increasing to 35 after 2 years’ service
• Auto-enrolment into our pension scheme after 3 months service
• Flexibility around your working day, with the opportunity to work your hours between 7am and 7pm and, the option to work from home for part of the working week. Flexibility arrangements will vary depending on the role and business needs, with some positions requiring closer alignment to core working hours to support service delivery.
• Access to our employee counselling service.
Learning and development is important to us and our team. We hope it’s important to you too. You will be encouraged to engage in learning and continued professional development.

“I have never worked in such a lovely organisation before! I feel valued, seen and heard as an individual here.” - A member of the Clan Childlaw team

“I love my job at Clan. It’s busy and varied and no two days are ever the same. We have a great team here and everyone is really supportive.” - A member of the Clan Childlaw team

Please apply with an anonymised CV and cover letter outlining your motivation to work with Clan and how your experience meets the role requirements. As part of our commitment to equitable recruitment, we operate an anonymised screening process, so please ensure your CV does not include your name, contact details, photographs, or other identifying information. Non-anonymised CVs may not be considered.

You can apply via our online portal here.

Closing date for application is midnight on Monday 8th June 2026, with interviews anticipated to take place w/c 15th June 2026.

Clan Childlaw is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected status.

Please note: To become an employee at Clan Childlaw you must be able to produce evidence of your Right to Work and Membership of the PVG Scheme is essential for this role and the successful candidate will be required to apply for the scheme and produce an acceptable PVG Scheme Record.