Joanna Dodson

{{Short description|British barrister (1945–2020)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Cleanup reorganize|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Joanna Dodson

| honorific_suffix = QC

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| birth_name =

| birth_date = 5 September 1945

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| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|23 August 2020|5 September 1945}}

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| nationality = British

| other_names =

| occupation = Barrister

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}}

Joanna Dodson QC (5 September 1945 – 23 August 2020) was a British barrister, specialising in family law.{{cite web |title=Dodson, Joanna, (born 5 Sept. 1945), QC 1993 |website=Who Was Who |access-date=18 January 2021 |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U13849 |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U13849 |date=1 December 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Singh Aulak |first1=Baldip |title=Remembering Joanna Dodson QC |url=https://www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/articles/remembering-joanna-dodson-qc |website=33 Bedford Row |access-date=18 January 2021 |date=25 August 2020}}{{cite web |title=Lawyer Profile: Joanna Dodson |url=https://www.legal500.com/firms/9519-33-bedford-row/9798-london-england/lawyers/484317-joanna-dodson-qc/ |website=The Legal 500}}

Dodson began her career at the chambers of Anthony Gifford QC and of Michael Mansfield QC, before becoming Head of Chambers at Fourteen (14 Gray's Inn Square); she ended her career at 33 Bedford Row.{{cite web |title=It is with sadness that FOURTEEN marks the death this week of Joanna Dodson QC, who for many years was our Head of Chambers. Our thoughts are with her family and friends. |url=https://fourteen.co.uk/insights/news/it-is-with-sadness-that-fourteen-marks-the-death-this-week-of-joanna-dodson-qc-who-for-many-years-was-our-head-of-chambers-our-thoughts-are-with-her-family-and-friends/ |website=Fourteen |access-date=18 January 2021 |language=en}} Having been called to the bar (qualified as a barrister) in 1971, she took silk (appointed Queen's Counsel) in 1993. Among notable cases, she represented the parents of Victoria Climbié at the associated public inquiry,{{cite news |last1=Carvel |first1=John |title=Climbiés attack child protection system |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/sep/28/johncarvel |access-date=18 January 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=28 September 2001 |language=en}} and the children of the appellant in ZH (Tanzania) v Secretary of State for the Home Office [2011].{{cite web |title=Joanna Dodson QC 1945-2020 |url=https://www.33bedfordrow.co.uk/insights/articles/joanna-dodson-qc-1945-2020 |website=33 Bedford Row |access-date=18 January 2021}} She was named among the top recipients of legal aid in 2004 and 2005.{{cite news |last1=Gibb |first1=Frances |title=Legal aid earnings cause furore |url=https://www.thetimes.com/best-law-firms/profile-legal/article/legal-aid-earnings-cause-furore-nj6nbxqltz6 |access-date=18 January 2021 |work=The Times |date=19 November 2004 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Finegold |first1=Oliver |title=£800,000 in a year for legal aid barrister |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/aps800-000-in-a-year-for-legal-aid-barrister-7187625.html |access-date=18 January 2021 |work=Evening Standard |date=19 April 2005 |language=en}} She was a graduate of Newnham College, Cambridge University.