Alistair MacDonald


Sir Alistair William Orchard MacDonald QC, 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. As a lawyer he specialised in child protection.

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. He then obtained a Diploma in Law from City University.
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, and later that year appeared on the BBC television series Barristers.
He became a Recorder in 2009, and QC in 2011. He practised in family law, particularly the rights of children. He was co-chairman of the Association of Lawyers for Children, speaking out against reductions in legal aid increases in court fees for local authorities, and a reduction of family law barrister fees. He is on the board of the journal Child and Family Law Quarterly.
He was made a Knight Bachelor on 10 November 2015.

Works

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."