C/L/262. Social and legal foundations of marriage, civil partnership and parenting

The paper examines the concept of marriage and its legal foundations in Scotland and England discussing the implications of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 and conducting a law case study that involves a dispute over parental responsibilities, the difference between matrimonial and non-matrimonial rights to give consent to a child's medical treatment, etc. Legal advice is given to the students and their families from a deprived area in London concerning parenting contracts, neglectful parenting and the problem of discrimination. The assessment of the author's personal and professional development during the learning experience is provided.