Alistair MacDonald

Sir Alistair William Orchard MacDonald QC (born 22 February 1970),[1] styled The Hon. Mr Justice MacDonald, has been a judge in the Family Division of the High Court of England and Wales since June 2, 2015.[lower-alpha 1] As a lawyer he specialised in child protection.[2]

This article is about the British judge. For people by the same name, see Alastair McDonald (disambiguation).
The Hon. Mr Justice MacDonald
High Court Judge
Assumed office
2 June 2015
Personal details
Born
Alistair William Orchard MacDonald

(1970-02-22) 22 February 1970
Nationality British
Spouse(s)Penelope MacDonald
ResidenceBirmingham
Alma materUniversity of Nottingham
City University
OccupationJudge
Barrister
Queen's Counsel

Career

MacDonald received a BA in Archaeology from the University of Nottingham and worked as an archaeologist for three years, without obtaining grant funding for an offered Ph.D. position.[3] He then obtained a Diploma in Law from City University.[4]

MacDonald was called to the bar in 1995 and undertook pupillage at Priory Chambers, 2 Fountain Court. In 2008 he won Barrister of the Year at the Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards,[5] and later that year appeared on the BBC television series Barristers.[3]

He became a Recorder in 2009, and QC in 2011.[6] He practised in family law, particularly the rights of children.[2] He was co-chairman of the Association of Lawyers for Children, speaking out against reductions in legal aid[7][8] increases in court fees for local authorities,[9] and a reduction of family law barrister fees.[10] He is on the board of the journal Child and Family Law Quarterly.[2]

He was made a Knight Bachelor on 10 November 2015.[11]

Works
  • MacDonald, Alistair (March 2011). The Rights of the Child – Law and Practice. Jordan Publishing. ISBN 9781846612107.

New Law Journal said "This book is the reference work for the family advocate who wishes to use the CRC on behalf of the children they represent."[12]

Notes
  1. There is another Alistair MacDonald QC who was chair of the Bar Council in 2015.

References
  1. "Senior judiciary". Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  2. Mueller, Matthias (May 22, 2015). "Alistair MacDonald QC appointed a Justice of the High Court". Family Law. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  3. "Birmingham lawyer to star on reality TV show". Birmingham Post. November 8, 2008. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  4. "Alistair MacDonald QC". The Legal 500. Archived from the original on 2011-09-06. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  5. "Hammonds boss wins Birmingham Law Society award". Birmingham Post. March 21, 2008. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  6. "Birmingham barristers sworn in as QCs". Birmingham Post. April 14, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  7. "Children lawyers slam legal aid reforms". Solicitors Journal. November 20, 2007. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  8. Unity Sale, Anabel (June 27, 2007). "How changes in legal aid rules will affect social care clients". Community Care. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  9. Rothwell, Rachel (April 16, 2008). "Huge fee hike raises fears of more child deaths". Law Gazette. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  10. Baksi, Catherine (May 16, 2008). "Family barrister 'exodus' fears". Law Gazette. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  11. "No. 61406". The London Gazette. 10 November 2015. p. 22094.
  12. "The Rights of the Child: Law and Practice". New Law Journal. March 9, 2012. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
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