Dr Lesley-Anne Barnes Macfarlane

  • Senior Lecturer (Law)

Biography

Lesley-Anne is a Senior Lecturer in Private Law.  Her research interests lie primarily in the fields of child law, family law and children's human rights.  She has published on a wide range of issues including reform of the family court system, the child’s right to be heard, the parent-child relationship and varying perceptions of childhood capacity in law.  She has a particular interest in the influence of children’s rights on the development of the law in Scotland and in comparative jurisdictions. 

She is currently working on a research project about children, childhood and delict (tort law), for which she has received a Leverhulme Research Fellowship.  Her research examines the relationship between law and other disciplines regarding paradigms of childhood understanding, capacity and responsibility.  

Lesley-Anne also contributes to ongoing discussion and debate about child and family law.  She was commissioned by the Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament to produce a report critically analysing the Bill that became the Children (Scotland) Act 2020.  More recently, she gave evidence on that Act to the Parliament's Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.  Lesley-Anne was a member of the advisory group to the Scottish Law Commission on cohabitation law reform and is currently the Law Society of Scotland examiner in family law.  She also provides training on aspects of child and family law to Scotland’s judiciary.

Before becoming an academic Lesley-Anne practised as a lawyer, regularly representing children and adults in court.  She has been accredited as a lawyer-mediator and her experience of working as a child welfare reporter and curator ad litem in complex court proceedings informs her research.  She previously taught at Edinburgh Napier University, where she was the founding director of the Centre for Child and Family Law and Policy. 

Research interests

Primarily (i) child law; (ii) family law; (iii) influence of children's rights on the development of Private Law in Scotland and in comparative jurisdictions; (iv) relationship between law and other disciplines.

Lesley-Anne presents her research at international academic events (e.g., University of Bergen, University of Cambridge, Stellenbosch University) and is a participant in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Implementation Project ('CRC-IP'), which evaluates implementation of the Convention in comparative contexts.

She has acted as principal investigator on several research projects and has wide-ranging experience in organising cross-disciplinary conferences and workshops.

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007
Number of items: 40.

2024

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2024) Children’s rights and childhood negligence proceedings - the inevitable questions. International Journal of Children's Rights, (Accepted for Publication)

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2024) Reflections on children’s rights-based “modernisation” of Scottish family law and policy. Juridical Review, 2024(1), pp. 1-15.

2023

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2023) “Adapt or perish”: the uncertain fate of childhood contributory negligence in Scotland. De Jure Law Journal, 56, pp. 588-605.

2022

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2022) Extending the judicial checklist in Scottish family court cases: an exercise of caution or a missed opportunity? Edinburgh Law Review, 26(1), pp. 107-112. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2022.0743)

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2022) "When I was a child… I reasoned like a child": harmonising the approach to childhood capacity for Criminal wrongdoing and Civil fault. Scots Law Times, 13, pp. 67-71.

2021

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2021) Practicability in ascertaining children’s views: superseding ‘the default position’. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 43(4), pp. 475-477. (doi: 10.1080/09649069.2021.1999108)

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2021) Out of the mouths of babes: listening to children of all ages in family court cases. Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 66(4), pp. 22-24.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2021) A new welfare test: plus ça change? Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 66(3), pp. 22-24.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2021) 'A History of Scottish Child Protection Law' Kenneth McK. Norrie. Juridical Review, 2021(1), pp. 59-61. [Book Review]

2020

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2020) Making law for children in Scotland: turning commitment into reality. Amicus Curiae, 1(3), pp. 476-486. (doi: 10.14296/ac.v1i3.5176)

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2020) Judicial Training Brief - Children (Scotland) Act 2020. Documentation. Judicial Institute for Scotland.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2020) Reform for family court cases: making a difference in the everyday lives of children? Scots Law Times, 2020(6), pp. 35-41.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2020) Reforming family law: the devil in the detail. Scots Law Times, 2020(4), pp. 21-26.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2020) A statutory checklist for family court cases: new life for an old idea? Scots Law Times, 2020(5), pp. 27-34.

2019

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2019) Balancing the rights of parents and children: Report Summary. Documentation. Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2019) Balancing the rights of parents and children: The Children (Scotland) Bill 2019. Technical Report. Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh.

2018

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2018) Patrick v Patrick and Re A letter to a Young Person: judicial letters to children – an unannounced, but not an unwelcome, development. Edinburgh Law Review, 22(1), pp. 101-107. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2018.0458)

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2018) Rethinking childhood contributory negligence: "blame", "fault" - but what about children's rights? Juridical Review, 2018(2), pp. 75-97.

2016

Sutherland, E. E. and Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (Eds.) (2016) Implementing Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Best Interests, Welfare and Well-being. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. ISBN 9781107158252

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2016) Serving best interests in ‘known biological father disputes’ in the United Kingdom. In: Sutherland, E. E. and Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (eds.) Implementing Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Best Interests, Welfare and Well-being. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, pp. 149-164. ISBN 9781316662977 (doi: 10.1017/9781316662977.010)

Sutherland, E. E. and Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2016) Introduction. In: Sutherland, E. E. and Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (eds.) Implementing Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, pp. 1-18. ISBN 9781316662977 (doi: 10.1017/9781316662977.002)

2015

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2015) Taking care of the small: article 6 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and childhood accidental injury claims in Scotland. Stellenbosch Law Review, 26(2), pp. 424-442.

2014

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2014) F v F: MMR vaccine – welfare need or welfare norm? Edinburgh Law Review, 18(2), pp. 284-289. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2014.0214)

2013

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2013) The Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill: another step in a remarkably long journey. Scottish Parliamentary Review, 1(2), pp. 153-164.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2013) A noise all over Europe: Douglas v Duke of Hamilton. In: Grant, J. P. and Sutherland, E. (eds.) Pronounced for Doom: Early Scots Law Tales. Avizandum Publishing. ISBN 9781904968658

2012

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2012) Family law: past, present and future. In: Mulhern, M. A. (ed.) Scottish Life and Society: The Law. Series: A compendium of Scottish ethnology, 13. Birlinn: Edinburgh. ISBN 9781906566043

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2012) ‘Family Law in Scotland’, J. Thomson. Scots Law Times, 2012(4), p. 22. [Book Review]

2010

Barnes, L.-A. (2010) Contributory negligence and the child. Juridical Review, 2010(3), pp. 195-215.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2010) Certificate in Scots Education Law (Training and Study Materials). Documentation. Central Law Training.

2009

Barnes, L.-A. (2009) “Dear Judge, I am writing to you because I think it's pathetic”: Re A-H (Children). Edinburgh Law Review, 13(3), pp. 528-533. (doi: 10.3366/E1364980909000717)

Barnes, L.-A. (2009) "Trips, slips and bangs": pupil injury claims and the teacher's duty of care. Juridical Review, 2009(3), pp. 189-207.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2009) Education law in Scotland. In: Cleland, A. and Sutherland, E. E. (eds.) Children's Rights in Scotland. W. Green: Edinburgh. ISBN 9780414015906

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2009) ‘Parenting After Partnering: Containing Conflict After Separation’ , M. Maclean. SCOLAG, 375, p. 26. [Book Review]

2008

Barnes, L.-A. (2008) "A child is, after all, a child": ascertaining the ability of children to express views in family proceedings. Scots Law Times, 2008(18), pp. 121-127.

Barnes, L.-A. (2008) "Moral actors in their own right": consideration of the views of children in family proceedings. Scots Law Times, 2008(21), pp. 139-142.

Barnes, L.-A. (2008) ‘Personal Injury Damages in Scotland’, S. Bennett. SCOLAG, 372, p. 267. [Book Review]

2007

Barnes, L.-A. (2007) Gender identity and Scottish law: the legal response to transsexuality. Edinburgh Law Review, 11(2), pp. 162-186. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2007.11.2.162)

Barnes, L.-A. (2007) Divorce and dissolution of Civil Partnership in the Sheriff Court. SCOLAG, 356, p. 131. [Book Review]

Barnes, L.-A. (2007) Family law. In: McFadzean, D. (ed.) Scots Law for Students : An Introduction. Dundee University Press: Dundee. ISBN 9781845860158

Barnes, L.-A. (2007) Sticks, stones and broken bones (and legal expenses too?). SCOLAG, 351, pp. 7-11.

This list was generated on Thu Oct 3 17:13:50 2024 BST.
Number of items: 40.

Articles

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2024) Children’s rights and childhood negligence proceedings - the inevitable questions. International Journal of Children's Rights, (Accepted for Publication)

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2024) Reflections on children’s rights-based “modernisation” of Scottish family law and policy. Juridical Review, 2024(1), pp. 1-15.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2023) “Adapt or perish”: the uncertain fate of childhood contributory negligence in Scotland. De Jure Law Journal, 56, pp. 588-605.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2022) Extending the judicial checklist in Scottish family court cases: an exercise of caution or a missed opportunity? Edinburgh Law Review, 26(1), pp. 107-112. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2022.0743)

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2022) "When I was a child… I reasoned like a child": harmonising the approach to childhood capacity for Criminal wrongdoing and Civil fault. Scots Law Times, 13, pp. 67-71.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2021) Practicability in ascertaining children’s views: superseding ‘the default position’. Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 43(4), pp. 475-477. (doi: 10.1080/09649069.2021.1999108)

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2021) Out of the mouths of babes: listening to children of all ages in family court cases. Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 66(4), pp. 22-24.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2021) A new welfare test: plus ça change? Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 66(3), pp. 22-24.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2020) Making law for children in Scotland: turning commitment into reality. Amicus Curiae, 1(3), pp. 476-486. (doi: 10.14296/ac.v1i3.5176)

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2020) Reform for family court cases: making a difference in the everyday lives of children? Scots Law Times, 2020(6), pp. 35-41.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2020) Reforming family law: the devil in the detail. Scots Law Times, 2020(4), pp. 21-26.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2020) A statutory checklist for family court cases: new life for an old idea? Scots Law Times, 2020(5), pp. 27-34.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2018) Patrick v Patrick and Re A letter to a Young Person: judicial letters to children – an unannounced, but not an unwelcome, development. Edinburgh Law Review, 22(1), pp. 101-107. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2018.0458)

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2018) Rethinking childhood contributory negligence: "blame", "fault" - but what about children's rights? Juridical Review, 2018(2), pp. 75-97.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2015) Taking care of the small: article 6 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and childhood accidental injury claims in Scotland. Stellenbosch Law Review, 26(2), pp. 424-442.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2014) F v F: MMR vaccine – welfare need or welfare norm? Edinburgh Law Review, 18(2), pp. 284-289. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2014.0214)

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2013) The Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill: another step in a remarkably long journey. Scottish Parliamentary Review, 1(2), pp. 153-164.

Barnes, L.-A. (2010) Contributory negligence and the child. Juridical Review, 2010(3), pp. 195-215.

Barnes, L.-A. (2009) “Dear Judge, I am writing to you because I think it's pathetic”: Re A-H (Children). Edinburgh Law Review, 13(3), pp. 528-533. (doi: 10.3366/E1364980909000717)

Barnes, L.-A. (2009) "Trips, slips and bangs": pupil injury claims and the teacher's duty of care. Juridical Review, 2009(3), pp. 189-207.

Barnes, L.-A. (2008) "A child is, after all, a child": ascertaining the ability of children to express views in family proceedings. Scots Law Times, 2008(18), pp. 121-127.

Barnes, L.-A. (2008) "Moral actors in their own right": consideration of the views of children in family proceedings. Scots Law Times, 2008(21), pp. 139-142.

Barnes, L.-A. (2007) Gender identity and Scottish law: the legal response to transsexuality. Edinburgh Law Review, 11(2), pp. 162-186. (doi: 10.3366/elr.2007.11.2.162)

Barnes, L.-A. (2007) Sticks, stones and broken bones (and legal expenses too?). SCOLAG, 351, pp. 7-11.

Book Sections

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2016) Serving best interests in ‘known biological father disputes’ in the United Kingdom. In: Sutherland, E. E. and Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (eds.) Implementing Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Best Interests, Welfare and Well-being. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, pp. 149-164. ISBN 9781316662977 (doi: 10.1017/9781316662977.010)

Sutherland, E. E. and Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2016) Introduction. In: Sutherland, E. E. and Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (eds.) Implementing Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, pp. 1-18. ISBN 9781316662977 (doi: 10.1017/9781316662977.002)

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2013) A noise all over Europe: Douglas v Duke of Hamilton. In: Grant, J. P. and Sutherland, E. (eds.) Pronounced for Doom: Early Scots Law Tales. Avizandum Publishing. ISBN 9781904968658

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2012) Family law: past, present and future. In: Mulhern, M. A. (ed.) Scottish Life and Society: The Law. Series: A compendium of Scottish ethnology, 13. Birlinn: Edinburgh. ISBN 9781906566043

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2009) Education law in Scotland. In: Cleland, A. and Sutherland, E. E. (eds.) Children's Rights in Scotland. W. Green: Edinburgh. ISBN 9780414015906

Barnes, L.-A. (2007) Family law. In: McFadzean, D. (ed.) Scots Law for Students : An Introduction. Dundee University Press: Dundee. ISBN 9781845860158

Book Reviews

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2021) 'A History of Scottish Child Protection Law' Kenneth McK. Norrie. Juridical Review, 2021(1), pp. 59-61. [Book Review]

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2012) ‘Family Law in Scotland’, J. Thomson. Scots Law Times, 2012(4), p. 22. [Book Review]

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2009) ‘Parenting After Partnering: Containing Conflict After Separation’ , M. Maclean. SCOLAG, 375, p. 26. [Book Review]

Barnes, L.-A. (2008) ‘Personal Injury Damages in Scotland’, S. Bennett. SCOLAG, 372, p. 267. [Book Review]

Barnes, L.-A. (2007) Divorce and dissolution of Civil Partnership in the Sheriff Court. SCOLAG, 356, p. 131. [Book Review]

Edited Books

Sutherland, E. E. and Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (Eds.) (2016) Implementing Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Best Interests, Welfare and Well-being. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. ISBN 9781107158252

Research Reports or Papers

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2020) Judicial Training Brief - Children (Scotland) Act 2020. Documentation. Judicial Institute for Scotland.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2019) Balancing the rights of parents and children: Report Summary. Documentation. Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2019) Balancing the rights of parents and children: The Children (Scotland) Bill 2019. Technical Report. Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh.

Barnes Macfarlane, L.-A. (2010) Certificate in Scots Education Law (Training and Study Materials). Documentation. Central Law Training.

This list was generated on Thu Oct 3 17:13:50 2024 BST.

Grants

  • Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2023), Sept 2023 - Sept 2024: to fund a research project entitled ‘Children, childhood and delict’ (£51,259)
  • The Clark Foundation for Legal Education (2021): family law student research internships (£3,399)
  • Judicial Institute for Scotland (2020-): judicial training materials and delivery, Children (Scotland) Act 2020 and children's participation in family court cases (£1,200-)
  • Royal Society of Edinburgh (2020): Research Network award, as PI, with Professor R Whitecross, Edinburgh Napier University (£19,500)
  • Scottish Parliament (2019): research work/written report on Children (Scotland) Bill 2019, commissioned by Justice Committee (£4,827)
  • Royal Society of Edinburgh (2018): Research Workshop award to design/host multi-disciplinary workshop series on Scots child and family law, as PI, with Professor R Whitecross, Edinburgh Napier University (£9,500)
  • The Clark Foundation for Legal Education (2015), with Professor EE Sutherland, University of Stirling: funding and support for organisation of 'Convention on the Rights of the Child Implementation Project Colloquium' from the Faculty of Advocates and the Law Society of Scotland (£3,015)
  • The Clark Foundation for Legal Education (2009): research on civil remedies for victims of school bullying (£3,750)

Supervision

Lesley-Anne welcomes enquiries from potential PhD students across all areas of child and family law and children's rights and the law. She also welcomes applications from students seeking to study towards an LLM by Research.

 

Previous PhD supervisions (non-University of Glasgow):

Gillian Baker - 'The absent voice: an examination of the experienecs of women in Scottish civil courts in child contact cases involving domestic abuse'.

Teaching

Children’s Rights (honours): course convenor

Comparative Issues in Children's Rights (honours): course convenor

Issues of Family Law (honours): contributor

Family Law (Level 1): tutor

Obligations 1A, 1B (Level 1): tutor

Additional information

Education

University of Glasgow: LLB (Hons) 1st Class (Bennett Miller Prize for the most distinguished Honours graduate in Private Law)

University of Glasgow: Diploma in Legal Practice (Distinction)

University of Strathclyde: LLM (by Research)

Edinburgh Napier University: PhD

Affiliations

Participant in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Implementation Project (‘CRC-IP’)

Member of the International Society of Family Lawyers

Member of Society of Legal Scholars

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Qualified solicitor (non-practising) in Scotland

Law Society of Scotland Examiner in Family Law

External Examiner: Robert Gordon University Law School

Peer reviewer

International Journal of Human Rights

Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law

Juridical Review

25th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Leiden University publication