Barrister Profile

Main Areas of Practice

Administrative Law or Judicial Review
Family Law
Human Rights

Biography

Maria has been a practising barrister since 1993 acting in a broad range of complex and challenging cases . During that time she has had experience in appearing for a range of parties in the Family Care Centre, High Court and Court of Appeal.

Her practice has consisted of Children Law work including public law cases (care orders, supervision orders); Child Abduction cases (Hague Convention and Non Hague Convention ). She also has an extensive practice in the field of adoption including Freeing Orders and has been instructed in high value ancillary relief cases. Her practice has led to numerous written judgements delivered.

Judicial Review also forms a part of her area of special interest, bringing challenges to the Health Trusts, Legal Services Agency and the Northern Ireland Prison Service. Throughout her career, she has developed a specialism in the field of family law and has conducted countless trials thereby honing her skills as a specialist advocate.

Qualifications

1984 BA History

1985: MSSC Irish Political Studies Queens University

1991; LL.B (Hons) Queen’s University, Belfast

1993: Certificate in Professional Legal Studies , Institute of Professional Legal Studies , Queen’s University, Belfast

1993; called to the Bar of Northern Ireland

Experience

Experience Throughout her career she has been involved in a number of complex cases .This has involved the running of lengthy trials and necessitated the consideration of complicated legal issues resulting in written judgments . Her involvement in such cases has led her to develop her advocacy and in particular, the examination and cross examination of expert witnesses (psychiatrists, psychologists, independent social workers and accountants). She has successfully challenged the actions of Health Trusts and the Northern Ireland Prison Service by way of Judicial Review which has resulted in written judgements

2016-2021 Department of Education public appointment on General Teachers Council

2020 to present - Public appointment as a Panel member on The Civil Legal Aid Panel