Professor Elaine Sutherland

Emeritus Professor

Law University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Professor Elaine Sutherland

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About me

Professor Sutherland researches, publishes and presents papers on child and family law around the world. In addition to her work in the Scottish and US domestic contexts, she has long pursued her interest in the comparative and international aspects of the subject.

She began her career in academia at the University of Edinburgh, in 1980, subsequently moving to the University of Glasgow. In 2006, she was recruited by the University of Stirling to join the newly-created Stirling Law School as the inaugural Professor of Child and Family Law. When she retired from teaching there, in 2020, Stirling University granted her emeritus status.

Having spent half of each year researching and teaching at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, for some 20 years until 2018, she is now a Distinguished Professor of Law Emerita there and will continue her relationship with Lewis & Clark Law School on a less scheduled basis.

From 2020 to 2023, she was a professor at the University of Bergen, Norway, working as part of an international team on the Legitimacy Challenges project: https://www.discretion.uib.no/projects/legitimacy-challenges/

Professor Sutherland is the sole author of over 160 articles and book chapters and 7 books and the editor or co-editor of 9 other volumes (see, Outputs). Some focus on Scots child and family law and, most recently, have included Child and Family Law: Vol II: Intimate Adult Relationships (2022) and articles addressing law reform, intimate adult relationships, child-parent relationships, child protection and juvenile justice. Other publications reflect her comparative and international law interests: see, for example, two volumes published by Cambridge University Press, The Future of Child and Family Law: International Predictions (2012) and Implementing Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Best Interests, Welfare and Well-being (2016). Yet other publications are concerned with more general developments in contemporary Scots law and its history. Since 1983, she has contributed the Scottish chapter to the International Survey of Family Law, the annual flagship publication of the International Society of Family Law, the leading academic organisation in the field.

In 2012, she founded the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Implementing Project (CRC-IP) to explore implementation of the CRC in the international and comparative contexts. To date, the CRC-IP has organised five international colloquia, examining article 12 (participation rights of the child: University of Auckland, New Zealand, 2013), article 6 (child's right to life, survival and development: University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2014), article 3 (primacy of the child's best interests: Edinburgh, Scotland, 2015), article 2 (prohibition of discrimination: University of Bergen, Norway, 2017) and article 5 (parental guidance and child's evolving capacities: University of Cambridge, England, 2019).

Professor Sutherland has been a member of the Family Law Committee of the Law Society of Scotland for some 40 years and, in 2019, was appointed by the Scottish Law Commission to its Advisory Group on Cohabitation. She is consulted regularly by government agencies, non-governmental organisations and the media on child and family law and reform thereof and attends and presents papers at national and international conferences.

Current Appointments:  Professor Emerita, University of Stirling, 2020 - present; Distinguished Professor of Law Emerita, Lewis & Clark Law School, Portland, Oregon, 2018 - present.

Principal previous appointments: Professor, University of Bergen, 2020 - 2023; Professor of Child and Family, Law School, University of Stirling, 2006 - 2020; Distinguished Professor of Law, Lewis & Clark Law School, Portland, Oregon, 1999-2018; Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader, School of Law, University of Glasgow, 1989-2005; Lecturer, Department of Scots Law, University of Edinburgh, 1980-1988; Apprentice Solicitor, Drummond & Co, W.S., Edinburgh, 1979-1980.

Current Research Projects:   With one volume of the third edition of her treatise, Child and Family Law: Intimate Adult Relationships, being published in 2022, Professor Sutherland is currently working on the companion volume, Children and Young People, and writing a number of articles and book chapters.

Academic and Professional Qualifications:   LLB (1st class Honours in Private Law), University of Glasgow, 1978; LLM, University of British Columbia, Canada, 1985; Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2001.

Research

Family Law; Intimate Adult Relationships; Child Law; Comparative Child and Family Law; Youth Justice; Human Rights and the Family; Medico-Legal Issues and the Family; Gender, Sexual Orientation and the Law.

Outputs (177)

Outputs

Showing 100 of 177 — See all 177 outputs

Article

Sutherland E (2024) How to Increase the impact of the UNCRC Act. Scottish Legal News, (25 January 2024). https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/elaine-e-sutherland-how-to-increase-the-impact-of-the-uncrc-incorporation-scotland-act-2024


Book Chapter

Sutherland E (2023) Scotland: Incrementalism and Compromise in Reforming Child and Family Law. In: Wilson RF & Carbone J (eds.) International Survey of Family Law 2023. 1 ed. Cambridge: Intersentia, pp. 179-197. https://www.larcier-intersentia.com/en/international-survey-family-law-2023-9781839704017.html


Article

Sutherland E (2023) Still left holding the baby. Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 68 (3). https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-68-issue-03/still-left-holding-the-baby/


Authored Book

Sutherland E (2022) Child and Family Law: Vol II: Intimate Adult Relationships. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: W. Green/Sweet & Maxwell/Thomson Reuters. https://www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk/Product/Family-and-Social-Welfare-Law/Child-and-Family-Law-Volume-II-Intimate-Adult-Relationships/Hardback/30798146


Article

Sutherland E (2021) "Avoid lawsuits beyond all things". Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 66 (7). https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-66-issue-07/avoid-lawsuits-beyond-all-things/


Newspaper / Magazine

Sutherland E (2021) Permission to jab. The Times. 08.09.2021, p. 30.


Website Content

Sutherland E (2021) An attempt to take child protection to a new level in Scotland. Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism [Blog post] 24.08.2021. https://discretion.uib.no/an-attempt-to-take-child-protection-to-a-new-level-in-scotland/


Article

Sutherland E (2021) Family: Teaming up to Zoom in on marriage. Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 66 (3). https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-66-issue-03/family-teaming-up-to-zoom-in-on-marriage/


Article

Sutherland E (2020) Skelping away. Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 65 (10). https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-65-issue-10/skelping-away/


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2020) Making Scotland 'the best place in the world to grow up'?. In: Brinig M (ed.) International Survey of Family Law: 2020. International Survey of Family Law. Cambridge: Interesentia, pp. 215-238. https://intersentia.com/en/international-survey-of-family-law-2020.html


Book Chapter

Sutherland E (2020) Unmarried cohabitation. In: George R & Eekelaar J (eds.) Routledge Handbook of Family Law and Policy. 2nd ed. Oxford: Routledge, pp. 61-70. https://www.routledge.com/Routledge-Handbook-of-Family-Law-and-Policy-2nd-edition-2nd-Edition/Eekelaar-George/p/book/9780367195526


Article

Sutherland EE (2020) Nikah-only marriage: a Scottish remedy?. Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 65 (3). https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-65-issue-03/nikah-only-marriage-a-scottish-remedy/


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2019) Child Custody and Cognate Concepts: The Challenges. In: Stark B & Heaton J (eds.) Routledge Handbook of International Family Law. Routledge Handbooks. Oxford: Routledge, pp. 127-143. https://www.crcpress.com/Routledge-Handbook-of-International-Family-Law/Stark-Heaton/p/book/9781472483829


Other

Sutherland EE (2019) Response to Scottish Government, The future of civil partnership in Scotland. Scottish Government. Scottish Government website. https://consult.gov.scot/family-law/the-future-of-civil-partnership-in-scotland/consultation/view_respondent?sort=excerpt&order=ascending&_b_index=0&uuId=443970377


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2019) Article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Non-Discrimination and Children’s Rights. In: Skivenes M & Søvig KH (eds.) Child Rights and International Discrimination Law: Implementing Article 2 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Routledge Research in International Law. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 23-41. https://www.crcpress.com/Child-Rights-and-International-Discrimination-Law-Implementing-Article/Skivenes-Sovig/p/book/9780367074630


Technical Report

Sutherland EE (2017) Review of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 - BRIA interview. Scottish Government. Edinburgh: Scottish Government. http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Justice/law/17867/review-of-children-scotland-act-1995/1995-Act-review-BRIA-interviews/BRIA-Elaine-Sutherland


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2017) Scotland: Proactive Child Protection: A Step Too Far?. In: Brinig M & Banda F (eds.) International Survey of Family Law: 2017 Edition. International Survey of Family Law. Bristol: Jordans/Family Law, pp. 287-309. https://www.familylaw.co.uk/news_and_comment/the-international-survey-of-family-law-2017-edition


Article

Sutherland EE (2017) Family law: still scope for reform. Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 62 (7). http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/62-7/1023495.aspx


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2016) Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: The Challenges of Vagueness and Priorities. In: Sutherland E & Macfarlane L (eds.) Implementing Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Best Interests, Welfare and Well-being. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 21-50. http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/law/un-and-international-organisations/implementing-article-3-united-nations-convention-rights-child-best-interests-welfare-and-well-being?format=HB#contentsTabAnchor


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE & Macfarlane LB (2016) Introduction. In: Sutherland E & Macfarlane L (eds.) Implementing Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Best Interests, Welfare and Well-being. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 1-18. http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/law/un-and-international-organisations/implementing-article-3-united-nations-convention-rights-child-best-interests-welfare-and-well-being?format=HB&isbn=9781107158252#contentsTabAnchor


Edited Book

Sutherland EE & Macfarlane LB (eds.) (2016) Implementing Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Best Interests, Welfare and Well-being. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/law/un-and-international-organisations/implementing-article-3-united-nations-convention-rights-child-best-interests-welfare-and-well-being?format=HB#contentsTabAnchor


Other

Sutherland EE (2016) Beyond the named person service. Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 61 (9). http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/#.V-3CvmcVCEU


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2015) Win Some, Lose Some, But Never Give Up. In: Atkin B & Banda F (eds.) The International Survey of Family Law: 2015 Edition. 2015 Edition ed. International Survey of Family Law. Bristol: Jordan Publishing for the International Society of Family Law. http://www.jordanpublishing.co.uk/practice-areas/family/publications/international-survey-of-family-law-2015-edition-the#.VQFpGE9F3cs


Newspaper / Magazine

Sutherland EE (2015) Agenda: Time to raise the age of criminality to 12. The Herald Scotland. 31.08.2015. http://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/13635958.Herald_View__The_need_for_reform_of_criminal_responsibility/


Other

Sutherland EE (2015) Dad or Undad: Liability for Paternity Fraud. Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, Online, 60 (8). http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/60-8/1020598.aspx


Authored Book

Sutherland EE (2014) Family Law Basics. 3 ed. LawBasics. Edinburgh, Scotland: W. Green. http://www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk/Catalogue/ProductDetails.aspx?productid=536030&recordid=5782


Other

Sutherland EE (2014) "It is a wise father...". Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 59. http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/59-6/1014070.aspx


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2014) Unmarried cohabitation. In: Eekelaar J & George R (eds.) Routledge Handbook of Family Law and Policy. Routledge Handbooks. London: Routledge, pp. 61-70. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415640404/


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2013) Martyrs to Circumstance: Longworth v Yelverton. In: Grant J & Sutherland E (eds.) Pronounced for Doom: Early Scots Law Tales. Edinburgh: Avizandum Publishing. http://www.avizandum.co.uk/content/pronounced-doom


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2013) Child Law: Respecting the Rights of Children. In: Visser D & Reid E (eds.) Private Law and Human Rights: Bringing Rights Home in Scotland and South Africa. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 81-105. http://www.euppublishing.com/book/9780748684175


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2013) Scotland: Can Family Law Be Rendered More Accessible?. In: Aitken B (ed.) International Survey of Family Law 2013. The International Survey of Family Law Series, 20. Bristol: Jordans/Family Law, pp. 333-342. http://www.jordanpublishing.co.uk/publications/family-law/-international-survey-of-family-law-2013-


Edited Book

Grant J & Sutherland EE (eds.) (2013) Pronounced for Doom: Early Scots Law Tales. Edinburgh: Avizandum Publishing. http://www.avizandum.co.uk/content/pronounced-doom


Other

Sutherland EE (2013) Bringing order to family law. Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 58 (9). http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/58-9/1013027.aspx


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2012) Scotland: the marriage of principle and pragmatism. In: Sutherland E (ed.) The Future of Child and Family Law: International Predictions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 363-397. http://www.cup.cam.ac.uk/aus/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9781107006805


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2012) Imperatives and challenges in child and family law: commonalities and disparities. In: Sutherland E (ed.) The Future of Child and Family Law: International Predictions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 1-46. http://www.cambridge.org/gb/knowledge/isbn/item6823160/The%20Future%20of%20Child%20and%20Family%20Law/?site_locale=en_GB


Edited Book

Sutherland EE (ed.) (2012) The Future of Child and Family Law: International Predictions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. http://www.cambridge.org/gb/knowledge/isbn/item6823160/The%20Future%20of%20Child%20and%20Family%20Law/?site_locale=en_GB


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2011) Child and Family Law: Progress and Pusillanimity. In: Sutherland E, Goodall K, Little G & Davidson F (eds.) Law Making and the Scottish Parliament: The Early Years. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 58-83. http://edinburgh.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.3366/edinburgh/9780748640195.001.0001/upso-9780748640195-chapter-004


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE, Goodall K, Little G & Davidson F (2011) Law Making and the Scottish Parliament: The Early Years in Context. In: Sutherland E, Goodall K, Little G & Davidson F (eds.) Law Making and the Scottish Parliament: The Early Years. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 3-8. http://edinburgh.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.3366/edinburgh/9780748640195.001.0001/upso-9780748640195-chapter-001


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2011) Scotland: 'The easing of certain legal difficulties': Limited Legal Recognition of Cohabitation Under Scots Law'. In: Aitken B (ed.) International Survey of Family Law: 2011 edition. The International Survey of Family Law, 18. Bristol: Jordans/Family Law, pp. 335-368. http://www.jordanpublishing.co.uk/publications/family-law/international-survey-of-family-law-2011-%20edition-the


Other

Sutherland EE (2011) Holyrood: a verdict. Journal of the Law Society of Scotland, 56 (5), pp. 22-24. http://www.journalonline.co.uk/Magazine/56-5/1009687.aspx


Edited Book

Sutherland EE, Goodall K, Little G & Davidson F (eds.) (2011) Law Making and the Scottish Parliament: The Early Years. Edinburgh Studies in Law. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. http://www.euppublishing.com/book/9780748640195


Book Chapter

Little GFM (2011) The Reform of the Scottish Judiciary. In: Sutherland EE, Goodall KE, Little GFM & Davidson FP (eds.) Law Making and the Scottish Parliament: The Early Years. Edinburgh Studies in Law, 9. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 183-207. https://doi.org/10.3366/edinburgh/9780748640195.003.0027


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2010) A Knock at the Door: Sloan v B: The Orkney Case. In: Grant J & Sutherland E (eds.) Scots Law Tales. Dundee: Dundee University Press. http://www.dundee.ac.uk/dup/books/scot-law-tables/


Edited Book

Grant J & Sutherland EE (eds.) (2010) Scots Law Tales. Dundee: Dundee University Press.


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2009) The Child in Conflict with the Law. In: Cleland A & Sutherland E (eds.) Children’s Rights in Scotland. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: W. Green, pp. 296-319.


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2009) Care of the Child Within the Family. In: Cleland A & Sutherland E (eds.) Children’s Rights in Scotland. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: W. Green, pp. 86-105.


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE & Grant J (2009) International Standards and Scots Law. In: Cleland A & Sutherland E (eds.) Children’s Rights in Scotland. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: W. Green, pp. 40-61.


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE & Cleland A (2009) Children's Rights in Scotland: Where Are We Now?. In: Cleland A & Sutherland E (eds.) Children's Rights in Scotland. 3rd ed. Edinburgh: W. Green, pp. 1-22. http://www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk/Catalogue/ProductDetails.aspx?productid=33599&recordid=2902


Edited Book

Cleland A & Sutherland EE (eds.) (2009) Children's Rights in Scotland, 3rd ed. Edinburgh: W. Green. http://www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk/Catalogue/ProductDetails.aspx?productid=33599&recordid=2902


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2009) What has a Decade of Devolution done for Scots Family Law?. In: Aitken B (ed.) The International Survey of Family Law 2009. 2009 Edition ed. The International Survey of Family Law, 16. Bristol: Jordan Publishing, Family Law. http://www.jordanpublishing.co.uk/Publications/catDetails.aspx?productID=877


Authored Book

Sutherland EE (2008) Family Law. 2nd ed. LawBasics Series. Edinburgh: W. Green.


Authored Book

Sutherland EE (2008) Child and Family Law. 2 ed. Edinburgh: W. Green.


Article

Sutherland EE (2006) Undue Deference to Experts Syndrome?. Indiana International and Comparative Law Review, 16 (2), pp. 375-421. http://indylaw.indiana.edu/iiclr/contents.cfm


Book Chapter

Sutherland EE (2006) Is there a Right Not to Procreate?. In: McLean S (ed.) First Do No Harm: Law, Ethics, and Healthcare. Applied Legal Phiosophy Series. Aldershot: Ashgate, pp. 319-336. http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754626145


Conference Paper (unpublished)

Sutherland EE (2005) Undue Deference to Experts Syndrome?. 12th International Conference of the International Society of Family Law, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, 19.07.2005-23.07.2005. http://www.law2.byu.edu/isfl/saltlakeconference/papers/isflpdfs/Sutherland.pdf


Conference Paper (published)

Sutherland EE (2004) Lessons from Orkney: Child Protection in Scotland. In: D'Abate D & Rowe W (eds.) Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on the Child, Montreal (Quebec), Canada, October 13-14-15, 1999, Children and Violence: Our Individual, Family and Collective Responsibilities. 4th International Conference on the Child, Organization for the Protection of Children’s Rights, Children and Violence: Our Individual, Family and Collective Responsibilities, Montreal, Canada, 13.10.1999-15.10.1999. Montreal: Theo Done and Associates Ltd. pp. 257-271. http://www.osde.ca/pdf/actes_4_congres.pdf


See all 177 outputs