Maria Scotland has been recognised in the Pro-Bono Recognition List of England & Wales, for 2026 for undertaking over 25 hours of pro-bono on behalf of Advocate.
Maria has undertaken cases for Advocate since its’ inception (as the Bar Pro Bono Unit) in 1996 and has been a member of the review panel for Advocate since 2007. Maria regularly gives up her time reviewing their cases, often well over 25 hours per year. In 2010, Maria received an award from the Bar Council for services to Pro-Bono for work done for Advocate (then the Bar Pro Bono Unit).
The Pro Bono Recognition List was set up under the aegis of the Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee. It is supported by the Access to Justice Foundation, Advocate, Advocates for International Development, the Bar Council, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, the Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, the Clinical Legal Education Organisation, International Lawyers Project, the In-House Pro Bono Group, the Law Officers, the Law Society, LawWorks, the National Pro Bono Centre, TrustLaw and the UK Collaborative Plan for Pro Bono.
The Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, is the Patron of the Pro Bono Recognition List.
Maria practices exclusively in family law with a specialism in high-end/ big money financial remedy applications and (private law) children work.
Maria is often instructed in multi-jurisdictional cases, involving International clients and clients with out-of-jurisdiction assets, in particular in the Middle East (the UAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabi, Oman and Qatar, with a number of her recent cases being published and establishing precedence in law.
Maria is recognised in Spears' 500 Guide (2023 & 2024): as a Top Recommended Family Law Barrister within the exclusive guide. Maria is also an author at Spears', with her recent article on Divorcing in Dubai: Should wealthy Expats worry about new UAE family laws? can be accessed here. She is ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners in family law (including divorce & financial remedy). She is one of the leading family law juniors and is the joint head of the Family Team at 5SAH.
Maria is a qualified arbitrator in financial matters and an accredited civil mediator.
