Carrie Laws
“As well as being my legal representation you’ve been my counsellor too at times. You didn’t need to but I needed you to, and I appreciated it very much.”
Having worked in the legal sector for over fifteen years, Carrie brings considerable experience in dealing with the most serious cases concerning children. Joining the Family Law Company in December 2010, she is on the Law Society’s Children Panel and has a particular expertise in representing children, both direct and through their children’s guardian. Carrie also has expertise in representing parents who are accused of very serious allegations, and those parents with physical and learning disabilities or difficulties, firmly believing that access to justice must be for all. Carrie is able to provide a calming influence on the most challenging of situations.
She takes a thoughtful and forensic approach to her cases and is described by her clients as a fierce negotiator. She is passionate about ensuring that rules of evidence and procedure are followed.
Carrie is the President of the Plymouth Law Society and was named West Country Women of the Year 2024 for Diversity and Equality.
Carrie won the Plymouth Law Society’s Young Lawyer of the Year award in 2018 and was shortlisted in 2019 for the Devon & Somerset Law Society’s Chartered Legal Executive of the Year award and the National CILEx Awards in the category of Legal Expert. Carrie was also shortlisted for Supporter of the Year at the National Advocacy Awards in 2019 in light of the extensive support she has given the Plymouth Parent Advocacy Project. She is widely regarded amongst her peers as a thorough, fair, and hardworking lawyer, and her particular approach has garnered judicial praise.
In her free time, Carrie enjoys books, baking, running, and is a self-confessed shoeaholic.
Her work includes:
- Representing children (direct and through their children’s guardian), parents, grandparents, and other family members in all aspects of public law proceedings, including adoption. This also includes advising on and preparing for lengthy hearings, including finding of fact and contested hearings.
- Representing parents on applications to discharge care orders and for contact with children in care.
- Advising and assisting parents in pre-proceedings meetings with the local authority and on child protection issues.
- Advising on issues relating to surrogacy.
- Advising on issues relating to special guardianship.
