Rachel Woad

LLB Hons Nottingham Trent , Called February 2021, admitted as a solicitor 1999

Principal Areas of Work

• Family Law
• Children (Public) Law
• Children (Private) Law

Professional Reputation

Rachel is a local former solicitor with over 21 years experience.

Within a couple of years of qualifying as a solicitor Rachel practiced exclusively in family law, initially in private practice and in 2004 she went to work for Hull City Council working in child protection.

Rachel’s 16 years of practice at the Local Authority mean she has vast experience of a wide and diverse range of child protection matters, before all levels of courts. She has brought to the Bar a great understanding of child protection issues, with strong knowledge and awareness of the law as well a social work practice and the function of local authorities.

Rachel is known for her hard work and her dedication to child protection work and for her organised, insightful and sensible approach to cases. Friendly and approachable, Rachel is also described as being very natural, confident and calm in her advocacy style.

Notable Cases:

• Rachel was the IS in the 2012 supreme court case Re T (Children) [2012] UKSC 36
• Re AM – return of a toddler to mothers care
• Re BB – successful challenge of LA refusal to provide financial support to a carer
• Re A – representing a LA on a FMPO
• Re N – successful in an application by an LA to terminate PR and refuse contact

Qualifications & Appointments

• Nottingham Trent University 1996 2:1
• Nottingham Law School 1997 Diploma in Legal Practice Commendation

Professional Memberships

• The Honourable Society of Lincolns Inn
• North Eastern Circuit
• FLBA

Training & Seminars

• Training of Social Workers on legal issues and court skills
• AMJ’s Law Hub webinar June 2021, delivering a public law update