Maria J. Galli

Maria is a dual-qualified litigation lawyer, admitted to practice as a Solicitor in Scotland, and as a Lawyer, Solicitor and Barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and the High Court of Australia. With over 35 years of extensive experience in civil and criminal litigation, alternative dispute resolution and public services, she has held diverse and impactful roles in child protection, safeguarding, education, family, and criminal justice, whilst continuously advocating for the human rights of babies, children, young people, and families across Scotland, Australia, and Jersey.

As one of the first solicitors accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in child law, Maria has also earned certifications as a Trauma-Informed Lawyer, and in Child-Centred Practice. Currently, she serves as the Convenor of the Child and Family Law, Sub-Committee at the Law Society of Scotland.

Maria's commitment to social justice extends to her volunteer work as a Trustee and Board Member for various charities, where she has held leadership positions such as Chair, Vice-Chair, and Company Secretary. Her contributions include roles at the Scottish Child Law Centre, the South Ayrshire Befriending Project, Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights), and Ayrshire Cancer Support, a local charity particularly close to her heart.

Her previous appointments reflect her dedication to improving child welfare, including her involvement with the Independent Advisory Group on Policing in the Pandemic, the Independent Information Sharing, Legal Sub-Group, and the international Rights Respecting Justice for Children in Conflict with the Law- a six nations, expert working group. On behalf of the Commissioner, she participated in the National Working Group on the use of physical interventions (restraint and seclusion) in schools, and served on the Expert Advisory Group for the incorporation of the UNCRC into Scots Law.

In her capacity as Legal Officer, and in-house solicitor, for the Children and Young People’s Commissioner, Maria contributed to advancing the children’s rights movement in landmark strategic litigation and legislative reforms for Scotland over the past decade.

Maria has recently transitioned to a new role as an Independent Legal Consultant, where she remains dedicated to working with children and families, promoting the implementation and realisation of human rights protections in law, and practice: here in Scotland, and beyond.