Our People

Jennifer Broatch
Associate

Professional experience

Jenny is an Associate in our family law team and advises clients on all aspects of family law including separation, divorce and child-related issues such as residence, parental rights and responsibilities, contact and relocation cases. She also has experience in adoption and guardianship cases.

Jenny sits on the Children's Panel in Edinburgh which is the unique system that deals with children who offend or are in need of compulsory care. Having served on this panel since 2006 she regularly attends training sessions to keep up-to-date with the ever changing laws in this area. In addition she has worked on the Family Law Association's response to the Legal Education Consultation, the Gill Review and the Children's Hearing System Consultation. Jenny practises in the Court of Session and the Sheriff Court, where she appears regularly and is also trained as a collaborative solicitor.

Credential highlights

• Several applications in Edinburgh Sheriff Court for Parental Responsibilities Orders and Freeing for Adoptions.
• Applications to Court for residence, contact orders and “specific issue” orders under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.
• Applications to Court for the award of parental rights and responsibilities under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995; and in some cases, the subsequent adoption of the child.
• Successful applications to Court for interdicts to be granted against violent or harassing behaviour (with power of arrest attached).
• Numerous guardianship applications to various Sheriff Courts in respect of obtaining guardianship for adults who are incapax under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act (2000).
• Progression of private adoptions for a number of clients.
• Advising clients on all aspects of education law including placing requests, co-ordinated support plans and additional support needs.