Kids Law

Space Law: Who Makes the Rules Beyond Earth?

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:00:00 +0100

Who makes the rules in space—and what happens when things go wrong?

Did you know there are more than 11,000 satellites orbiting Earth—and no traffic lights in space? From falling space debris to future cities on the Moon, this episode explores how laws work beyond Earth with leading international space lawyer Joanne Wheeler.

Together, we explore:

• How space law began—and why it was created

• What happens if space debris falls back to Earth

• The growing issue of space sustainability and debris

• Whether countries and companies can mine the Moon

• What life (and laws) might look like on Mars

Joanne also shares how she became a space lawyer—and why there are exciting career opportunities for young people interested in space.

If you’ve ever looked up at the night sky and wondered who’s in charge up there this episode is for you!

Guest: Joanne Wheeler, MBE, Managing Partner at Alden Legal and international expert in space law. Joanne advises governments and companies on satellite launches, space regulation, and sustainability—and is helping shape the future of life beyond Earth.

Resources

The National Space Centre

National Space Academy

Royal Observatory Greenwich

Royal Astronomical Society

Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)

UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UKSEDS)

Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)

Need help or advice?

Call Childline: 0800 1111 (UK, free and confidential)

Visit: www.childline.org.uk

Kids Law is a podcast helping young people understand how the law affects their everyday lives—from school rules to big global issues like human rights and space exploration.

If you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at kidslaw@spark21.org, contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

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Justice Delayed? Courts, Prisons and the Right to a Lawyer Episode

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Why does funding legal advice matter and how law affects everyone in society and why delays in courts and overcrowded prisons are becoming a serious problem. Alma-Constance and Lucinda explore what’s happening inside the UK’s justice system with Richard Atkinson, criminal defence solicitor with more than 30 years’ experience and the 180th President of the Law Society of England and Wales.

In this episode we discuss

Why criminal trials are now scheduled four years into the future, what prison overcrowding means for justice
Why legal aid is such an important public service
How early legal advice can prevent problems in areas like housing and family life
Whether the age of criminal responsibility should be raised
The importance of investing in courts, lawyers and modern technology

Richard also shares a powerful story from his career defending children and young people and that when he was 10 years old he wanted to be an RAF pilot and fly fast jets!

Together we discuss how the justice system works, why funding matters, and how law affects everyone in society — even if we don’t think about it every day.

As always, Kids Law helps young people understand how laws affect them — and how they can shape the future.

If you have worries or need support:
Childline: 0800 1111 (free confidential advice for under 18)
Visit: www.kidslaw.info

Please subscribe, rate and share the podcast — and keep your brilliant questions coming.

Resources

Richard Atkinson LinkedIn

Richard Atkinson with Law Society Gazette

The Law Society

Tuckers Solicitors

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Who Owns History? The Parthenon Marbles Debate

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Should the Parthenon (often called the “Elgin”) Marbles be returned to Greece? In this episode of Kids Law, Alma-Constance and Lucinda explore one of the biggest cultural and legal debates in the UK. The ancient sculptures were taken from the Parthenon temple in Athens over 200 years ago and are now displayed in the British Museum. Some people believe they were legally acquired. Others argue they should be reunited with the rest of the temple in Greece. So what does the law say? And can the law change?

We’re joined by solicitor Mark Stephens CBE, consultant at Howard Kennedy and a long-time campaigner for the reunification of the Parthenon Marbles. Mark explains:

How Museum laws developed over time
Why national museums in the UK currently cannot return objects, even if they want to
Why some countries say cultural objects are more than “museum pieces” — they are part of identity
What “provenance checking” means and why it matters today
Whether returning objects would empty museums — or make them fairer

We also explore:

Why learning from the past isn’t the same as judging it
Whether the age of criminal responsibility (currently 10 in England and Wales) is too young
Why lowering the voting age to 16 could strengthen democracy
How the law evolves as society grows up

Mark shares his belief that the law is strongest when it protects the smallest voices — and that asking questions is often where change begins.

When he was 10, Mark says he was very curious, asked a lot of questions and cared about fairness a lot.

As always, Kids Law helps young people understand how laws affect them — and how they can shape the future.

If you have worries or need support:
Childline: 0800 1111 (free confidential advice for under 18)
Visit: www.kidslaw.info

Please subscribe, rate and share the podcast — and keep your brilliant questions coming.

References

https://www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/british-museum-story/contested-objects-collection

https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/time-to-rethink-our-museums-and-return-stolen-goods-says-high-profile-lawyer/5110128.article

The British Committee for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles

https://www.parthenonuk.com/component/tags/tag/mark-stephens-cbe

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Stephens_(solicitor)

The Art Newspaper

Howard Kennedy

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Kids Law - a listen back at the first 5 years!

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

This episode is a listen back over the past 5 years since we launched the podcast.

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From Participation to Power: Why Children’s Voices Matter

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Want to know how you can influence the decisions that shape your life?

Arthur Templeman-Lily at 17 years old is a children’s rights consultant from Wales, who works to ensure young people’s voices are heard in decisions that affect their lives. He tells Alma and Lucinda about his experience in children participating in shaping law and policy, and why Cardiff is a leader in children’s rights. Arthur explains how he became involved in children’s rights work and champion youth voices. We discuss:

· How he went about producing the children-led book, ‘Pause, Play, Fast Forward: The Journey of Children in Wales’

· how the book is being used in schools and youth settings

· why Wales became one of the first UK nations to criminalise smacking

· the reasons and importance of voting at 16 years old

· the age of criminal responsibility, comparing Wales with Scotland.

· advice for children who want to learn more about their rights or get involved.

When Arthur was 10, he really enjoyed history and loved writing fan fiction about the Lion King!

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School Exclusions and Children’s Rights

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0100

Content Warning: This episode mentions domestic and sexual abuse, possession of weapons, and mental health difficulties in relation to behaviour that may lead to school exclusion.

Children as young as 10 can be held responsible for crimes – but they also have special rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda talk to Florence Cole, an education solicitor at Harrow Law Centre, about the laws around children’s education, why exclusions happen, and what can be done to protect young people.

Florence has many years' experience supporting children and families through exclusions, appeals, discrimination cases, and special educational needs issues. She explains:

· When parents can legally challenge a school or local authority decision

· Why exclusions can have devastating long-term effects

· How children’s backgrounds, trauma and unmet special needs can influence behaviour

· The “school-to-prison pipeline” and pupil referral units

· Practical tips for parents and carers facing exclusion hearings

· How the law (Equality Act 2010, Children & Families Act 2014, SEND Regulations) protects children with special educational needs

When Florence was 10, she loved spending time in nature and had an imaginary friend called Frieda.

References and Resources

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Escaping Danger: Why People Seek Refuge in Other Countries

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0100

We hear in the news about people fleeing their homes to become asylum seekers or refugees, why is this? Alma and Lucinda talk to Lance Bartholomeusz from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to find out:

· The difference between refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants

· Why so many people around the world are forced to leave their homes

· What protections and rights refugees have under international law

· The role of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) around the world

· How refugee children are supported to go to school, stay safe, and build new lives

· The challenges people face when starting a new life in a different country

You’ll also hear real examples of the UNHCR’s work, from helping Palestinian families in neighbouring countries, to supporting Rohingya communities in Bangladesh, to protecting displaced people in Ukraine, and how Uganda supports Sudanese refugees in Africa.

When Lance was 10 he wanted to be a snake handler!

References and Resources

United Nations Refugee Agency

United Kingdom for UNHCR

Kate Blanchett on Statelessness

Patrick Eba UNHCR’s policy and legal expert ‘Why do refugees need protection?’

There are more stories at www.unhcr.org under news and stories. Here are the latest stories relating to children: News and stories | UNHCR

There were 8.4 million asylum-seekers awaiting decisions on their individual applications at the end of 2024, the highest number ever recorded, marking a 22 per cent increase from 6.9 million the previous year. See Global Trends | UNHCR

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Apprentice vs Graduate: Two Paths to Becoming a Solicitor

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 08:00:00 +0100

Did you know you could train as a solicitor straight from school?

There are two different routes to becoming a solicitor –as a graduate and as an apprentice.

In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda speak to Annabel Twose, a second-year trainee, and Matt Dady, a first-year solicitor apprentice at Fieldfisher's London office, a European law firm with 25 offices in 13 countries.

Together they explore:

· Why they wanted to train as a solicitor

· The difference between training as a solicitor apprentice or as a graduate and why chose their route

· challenges encountered in their training

· A typical day and available support

· The area of law they want to practice once qualified

· Their top tips for working in a law firm

When she was 10 years old, Annabel was an avid reader and inspired by Alex Rider books wanted to be a spy. Matt wanted to work in the travel industry, as a captain of a cruise ship.

References and Resources

Fieldfisher London

CILEX episode

Legal Cheek

Corporate Law Academy

Grow Mentoring

The Bright Network.

Law Society and becoming a solicitor

Law Careers – a guide to apprenticeships

➡️ Call 999 in an emergency
➡️ Speak to an adult you trust
➡️ Or contact a confidential service like Childline: 0800 1111
➡️ If you're under 18 and want free, confidential advice, you can also call the NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk

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Can You Smack a Child? What the Law Says in the UK.

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0100

Research shows that smacking a child can be physically and emotionally damaging and it’s not an effective way to discipline them. In some parts of the UK, such as Scotland and Wales, smacking a child is against the law, even if you’re just visiting. But in England and Northern Ireland, the law is different - parents can still claim a defence of ‘reasonable punishment’.

In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda speak to Amy Packham, a criminal barrister, Deputy Head of Lamb Building chambers, and a part-time Crown Court judge.

Together, they explore:

· Why the law around smacking children is different in different parts of the UK

· Whether teachers or other adults are ever allowed to smack a child

· What the law means by ‘reasonable punishment’

· What happens if someone reports a parent for smacking their child

· How the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child fits into all of this

If a child tells you they are being hit or they don’t feel safe, it’s important to act:
➡️ Call 999 in an emergency
➡️ Speak to an adult you trust
➡️ Or contact a confidential service like Childline: 0800 1111
➡️ If you're under 18 and want free, confidential advice, you can also call the NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk

References and Resources

Find your local social care team through your local council.

NSPCC helpline (via phone, email or online form)

Kids Law Interview Why are Children’s Rights in Scotland the Strongest in the UK?

S.58 The Children Act 2004

NSPCC Survey 2024

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) Report 2024

Children’s Commissioner for England

Article 19 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

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Does the law protect young online influencers?

Thu, 01 May 2025 05:00:00 +0100

WARNING: Adults might want to listen to this episode before listening with young children, as we mention the words self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders in the context of examples of harmful online content.

What are the legal implications for young people becoming influencers online? What happens if brands offer them sponsorship deals? These activities raise commercial, consent and ownership legal issues.

Alma-Constance and Lucinda speak to Steve Kuncewicz, Partner at Glaisyers Solicitors. Steve is an expert in the law that affects the creative, digital and marketing world and he joined the our hosts to talk about the main legal issues affecting children creators of online content in the UK including:

· General legal issues affecting online content creators

· Young people and contracts and sponsorship deals

· Social media platforms responsibilities and the Online Safety Act

· Challenges when parents involve their children in content creation

· Cases and laws in USA lto protect young online content creators

When Steve was 10 years old, he said he was geeky and still is! He wanted to be a writer and imagined he would be Batman!

References and Resources

Steve Kuncewicz

Child Content Creators: What Is Protecting Minors from Exploitation?

Teen Vogue article 2023: Influencer Parents and The Kids Who Had Their Childhood Made Into Content

UCLA Law Review

Child Influencers and Commercial Challenges

Kids Law podcasts on other related topics:

How can laws protect creative works?

How the ICO works to protect children online

How young people can be protected online NSPCC perspective

Does the law control when a child can work and get paid for it?

Online Safety Act - what is being done to keep children safe online

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Can rivers and forests have legal rights?

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 08:00:00 +0000

There are laws which are supposed to protect our environment, but they haven’t stopped pollution and the destruction of the natural world. So, some rivers and forests gave been granted enforceable legal rights to stop this habitat destruction. Alma-Constance and Lucinda discussed this with one of the co-founders of the Lawyers for Nature organisation: Paul Powlesland a barrister at Garden Court Chambers; and he told us:

· Why Lawyers for Nature was founded

· How having legal rights gives nature a voice in the legal system

· About the cases he has been involved with to help local communities protect their trees

· The examples from other countries where rivers and nature have been given legal rights

· About being the self – appointed guardian of the river Roding in East London

· Several ways that we can become involved in protecting nature in our communities.

References and Resources

https://www.lawyersfornature.com/about/

Brontie Ansell

David Hunter

Paul Powlesland

Nature in Court – as Jury Oath

Faith In Nature

Universal Declaration of River Rights

EcoJurisprudence World wide examples

Webinar Strategic litigation: how charities can use the law as a force for good Client Earth

River Roding Trust

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Did you know that ten year old children can treated as criminals in this country?

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

That's right... the age of criminal responsibility for children in England & Wales is only 10 years old! This is the lowest age in Europe and one of the lowest worldwide. Alma- Constance and Lucinda talk to Kirsty Brimelow KC, an expert in international human rights, public and criminal law and recently elected Vice Chair of the Bar Council for 2025. She explained:

How the law of criminal responsibility has come about
The sorts of crimes that children are charged with
The impact on the lives of children who are put into the criminal justice system
The attempts to raise the age of criminal responsibility
About the countries which are seen as effective examples in how they approach juvenile justice
The role international organisations play in seeking to raise the age

When Kirsty was eight she was inspired to think about the importance of fairness and justice in everyday life.

References and Resources

Kirsty Brimelow KC

Kids Law Episode Sir Max Hill KC, 'Can you really become a criminal at 10?'when he was the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Kids Law episode Why are Children’s Rights in Scotland the Strongest in the UK? With Bruce Adamson,when he was the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland.

Kirsty Brimelow KC Kids Law episode 'Do witches really exist and how do lawyers get involved?'

Age of criminal responsibility

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8565619.stm?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://archive.crin.org/en/home/ages.html https://www.unicef.org/eca/reports/systematic-responses-children-under-minimum-age-criminal-responsibility

https://www.unicef.org/lac/media/2771/file/PDF%20Minimum%20age%20for%20criminal%20responsibility.pdf

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A look back at Series 4

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 06:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda look back at Series 4 where they've been talking to people working in the legal system who explain how laws affect us in everyday life, particularly for children and young people. The 12 episodes cover:

the new Online Safety Act,
alternative ways to resolve disputes, and why the Old Bailey is so famous,
how the law affects children when someone dies and if the king has to obey the law,
the role of ethics in law, how human rights can be used to protect children and the difference between human rights and civil liberties,
why law centres were set up and how they support people in the community,
how to practice law without going to university; and
the most important IP right that affects young people.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland

We would like to say a big thank you to all our Series 4 speakers for supporting our project, and especially you, our listeners.

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All about Inquiries

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000

After a major tragedy, public inquiries look at what happened, why it happened, and who is to blame, and what could be done to prevent this happening again. One of the most notorious is the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry, where many innocent people were falsely accused of crimes.
Alma and Lucinda spoke to Flora Page, a barrister at 23 Essex Street Chambers, she recently represented the sub postmasters in the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry. She told us:

· Why inquiries are so important when there has been a major tragedy

· How they ensure organisations are held accountable for their actions

· Her role in the post office horizon IT Inquiry and why lawyers are involved?

· How the voices of children and young people can be heard in an Inquiry

When Flora was 10 she liked sailing and acting and thought she wanted to be a geologist!

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

References and Resources
What is the Role of Ethics in Law (Richard Moorhead Series 4 Episode 8)

Watch Flora Page interview witnesses with commentary

Post Office Horizon IT inquiry Livestream videos

https://www.23es.com/barrister/flora-page/

UK Covid-19 inquiry Post Office Horizon IT inquiry.

Inquiries Act 2005.

https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/public-inquiries

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06410/

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Why is the Old Bailey the most famous criminal court in England and Wales?

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 08:00:00 +0000

The Old Bailey is the nickname for the court that hears the most serious criminal cases in England and Wales.
Alma and Lucinda spoke to Her Honour, Judge Anuja Dhir KC, the first non-white judge to be appointed. She tells us:

about her role as a judge and what it's like to work in such a historic court
how children and young people are involved in the criminal justice system
the special procedures that are used to take their evidence and support them
what it was like changing from being a barrister to a judge
her experience of diversity in the legal profession

When Anuja was 10 she wanted to be a manager in a shoe shop!

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

References and Resources

HH Anuja Dhir KC
Judicial Appointment
The Old Bailey. - The public galleries are open Monday - Friday 09:55 to 12:40 and 13:55 - 15:40. Visitors must be over 14. Proof of age may be requested by security.

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How does the law impact children when someone dies?

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 09:00:00 +0100

WARNING: This episode mentions death and dying in the context of the legal implications of death.

We know that law affects us during our lives but what happens when we die to all our things social media accounts even our pets? And how are children affected?

Alma and Lucinda talk to Melinda Giles, the Head of the Private Client and Court of Protection department at Giles Wilson Law Ltd about the law and procedures when we die.
She tells us

· What is the legal process following death and what happens to our things

· Why wills are important and what happens if you don’t make one

· What happens to pets and our online presence accounts

· How these laws affect children

· How she advises and supports families in complex situations

When Melinda was 10 years old she loved reading so much she would hide under the covers with a torch at bedtime. She wanted to write and illustrate books at a beautiful desk!

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

References and Resources
https://www.melindagiles.com/about
YouTube channel TVLawyer
X @MelindaGilesLaw
Cruse Bereavement Care supports people who are bereaved and produces useful information and advice.

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Online Safety Act - what is being done to keep children safe online

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +0100

Adults might want to listen to this episode before listening with young children, as we mention the words self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders in the context of examples of harmful online content.
The new Act aims to protect young people from harmful content online and puts new obligations on online platforms to make them more responsible for their users safety.
Alma - Constance and Lucinda speak to Jess Smith, Ofcom's online safety director, who explains:

· How the Act will stop children being harmed by online activity.

· What tech companies will have to do to protect vulnerable people.

· The ways to ensure age checks and change inappropriate algorithms.

· How children have been involved to discuss their online experiences.

· What Ofcom can do to ensure that the online providers obey with the new laws?

When Jess was 10 years old, she says she was very chatty, into climbing trees and cartwheels and really liked reading. Her ambition was to be a professional horse rider competing in the Olympics.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

Resources and References

Ofcom

What the Online Safety Act does

Links for places that offer children support if they see harmful content online:

· Internet Matters

· NSPCC

· Childnet

· SWG4L

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Law, Tech and How It Affects Kids As They Grow Up.

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 06:00:00 +0100

At the Future Lawyer UK Conference, co-host Alma-Constance interviews Richard Susskind on Law, Tech and How It Affects Kids As They Grow Up.

In this special interview, questions such as how AI will affect how laws are drafted will be explored!

Professor Richard Susskind OBE KC (Hon) is half-lawyer, half-technologist. He has written 10 books and his work has been translated into 18 languages. His eleventh book, How to Think About AI: A Guide to the Perplexed, is to be published in the coming year. With his son, Daniel, he co-authored The Future of the Professions (2015, 2022), which was an FT Book of the Year. He is President of the Society for Computers and Law and, for 25 years, was Technology Adviser to the Lord Chief Justice of England. He wrote his PhD on artificial intelligence and the law at Oxford University in the early 1980s.

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How can laws protect creative works?

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0100

If you write a song, create music or a fantastic invention, what can you do if someone copies your hard work?
Alma- Constance and Lucinda speak to His Honour Judge Richard Hacon, Presiding Judge of the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, known as IPEC.

He tells us

· That creative works, inventions and designs can be legal protected by intellectual property rights

· There are different types of rights such as trademarks, design rights, patents, and copyrights

· How important it is that people can make a living from their creative work

· The ways that these rights can be protected and where you can get help and advice, even if you don’t have much money

When Richard was 10 years old, he says he was a bit of a daydreamer, and his teachers often asked him to pay attention in class! He studied science at university, and he says he has found that useful in his intellectual property work.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

References and Resources

His Honour Judge Richard Hacon

IP Pro Bono

IPEC

Intellectual property and your work

Intellectual Property: A very short introduction

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Do you have to go to court to resolve disputes?

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 14:00:00 +0100

Going to court can be lengthy, expensive and leave people feeling dissatisfied with the outcome. Alma- Constance and Lucinda speak to Frederick Way who is a Senior Dispute Resolution Consultant, Mediator and Trainer the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR).
He tells us

· the alternative ways to resolve disputes

· How mediation works

· How people can be encouraged to work together to solve problems

· Cases where children are involved and how their voices are heard

· How young people are trained in schools to do peer mediation with their classmates

When Frederick was 10, he was really into drama and acting and was a child actor in London, doing professional shows. He was in a musical called The Sound of Music, playing the youngest Von Trapp - a boy called Kurt!

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

References and Resources

Frederick Way

CEDR

The CEDR Mediation Audit

Civil Mediation Council

Peer Mediation https://civilmediation.org/peer-mediation/

Child Inclusive Mediation

SEND mediation for children with special educational needs

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What is the role of ethics in law?

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 11:00:00 +0000

What does ethics mean and why is it so important in the legal system and can it ensure that lawyers can be trusted?
Alma- Constance and Lucinda speak to Richard Moorhead, Professor of Law and Professional Ethics at the University of Exeter Law School and Honorary Professor of Law at UCL. He is also a member of the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board in relation to the Post Office Horizon scandal.

He tells us

· What ethics means

· Why it’s so important in the legal system

· How lawyers are trained to be ethical in their work

· How standards maintained and checked

· What can happen if lawyers do behave unethically

· What could be done to prevent such problems

When Richard was 10, he wanted to be a footballer or a popstar!

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

References and Resources

Richard Morehead

Lawyer Watch

Twitter X

Ethics of In-house Lawyers, with Vaughan and Godhino

The Art and Science of Negotiation Howard Raiffa

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A look back at 3 Years of Kids Law!

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Alma-Constance and Lucinda take a look back at the top 5 episodes over the 3 year lifespan of Kids Law podcast.

This episodes features:
- former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett, the most downloaded episode
- former head of the Department of Public Prosecutions, Sir Max Hill KC, the most publicised episode across media
- former president of the UK Supreme Court, Baroness Brenda Hale
- barrister Adam Wagner, the only guest to have been featured twice on the episode, once joined by his daughter
- barrister Sultana Tafadar KC, also joined by her daughter

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

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How to practice law without going to university.

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 20:00:00 +0000

Did you know that you don’t have to go to university to become a lawyer? Some 17,000 people have been trained to become chartered legal executives (CILEX lawyers) who are fully qualified legal professionals.

Alma-Constance and Lucinda spoke to Emma Davies the CILEX President who tells us about:

The different schemes to train as a paralegal, legal executive or apprentice for those who want to specialise in a particular area of law.
The flexible studying opportunities whilst working in an organisation.
Some of the case studies of people from all different educational backgrounds.
Some of the types of cases that involve children such as family law, criminal law, personal injury etc.
Her motivation to become a lawyer and role as president of CILEX.

When Emma was 10 she loved playing the clarinet and saxophone reached grade eight and played in the Exeter Children’s orchestrator and knew she wanted to help people and make a difference.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

References and Resources
CILEX - The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
Webinars sign up
Pathways
LinkedIn
Emma Davies LinkedIn
Twitter X
Instagram
Facebook

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How law centres tackle the causes of poverty and inequality in our communities

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 11:00:00 +0000

Getting legal advice can be very expensive and many people can't afford it. Law centres are based in local communities to give free legal advice and assistance with social welfare problems such as homelessness, advice about welfare benefits and employment and immigration issues.

Alma-Constance and Lucinda talk to Franck Kiangala, Director and Immigration Solicitor at North Kensington Law Centre. He tells us:

· why and how law centres were created

· the type of cases they are involved with in the North Kensington community

· why is it so important to have law centres today

· the challenges law centre clients and communities face such as the Grenfell fire and the Windrush scandal

· cases that involve children

Franck tell us about his career and why he specialises in immigration law. When Franck was 10 years old, he was very curious about the world and was always reading. He memorised all the capitals of every country in the world!

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

References and Resources
NKLC https://nklc.org.uk/history/
Law Centres Network
The concept of law centres
https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/meet-rock-n-roll-lawyers-18395890
NKLC at 50 Guardian article
Law Society interview

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What’s the difference between civil liberties and human rights?

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 12:00:00 +0000

The UK signed the European Convention on Human Rights, which covers both human rights and civil liberties, and it is part of our law. But how are they different?
Alma-Constance and Lucinda talk to Shami Chakrabarti CBE, PC who sits in the House of Lords and is a human rights activist. She tells us:

· how civil liberties and human rights work to protect us all

· how the rule of law relates to civil liberties and human rights

· Shami’s work to protect children's rights and why the voting age should be 16 years old

· why diversity and inclusion is important in the area of civil liberties and human rights

When Shami was 10 years old she cared a lot about injustice and liked talking to her parents about politics. She liked to read, debate and enjoyed playing musical instruments.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

References and Resources

https://members.parliament.uk/member/4579/contact

Books:

On Liberty

Of Women: In the 21st Century

Human Rights The Case for the Defence – release on 2/5/24

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Is the King above the law?

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 08:00:00 +0000

In May 2023, King Charles III was crowned as the new monarch for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Part of his role, every year, the monarch is invited to open the new parliamentary session - and, this November, King Charles III is opening Parliament for the first time as King. Alma-Constance and Lucinda talk to Sir John Baker, an English legal historian who was the Downing professor of the laws of England at the University of Cambridge and he told us about the King’s role in making and upholding laws and the constitutional monarchy.

We discuss:

· what the Crown, Monarch, and sovereign mean

· whether the King has any powers

· if a child can be a monarch

· the role of the King in the legal justice system

· what would happen if the King broke the law

When John was 10 years old, he liked playing with friends and studying insects in the garden. His most vivid early memory was watching the coronation of Elizabeth II when he was nine on television, which was a very new technology.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

References and Resources

Sir John Baker

English Legal History and its Sources by Sir john Baker

The Crown and the Constitution

Learning Parliament UK

The Royal Family

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How human rights can be used to protect children and promote equality.

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:00:00 +0100

Human rights are for everyone, but some groups do not get access to them equally. Why is this and what can be done?
Alma-Constance and Lucinda talk to Sultana Tafadar KC and her 11 year old daughter Safiyah, who tell us about their work and why they set up the Girls Human Rights Hub and:

· why Sultana chose to work as a human rights lawyer.

· how human rights protect children in criminal cases.

· why girls need special protection and that boys can be involved too.

· why they launched Girls Human Rights Hub and what it provides.

· how law can be used to achieve equality through education, advocacy and litigation.

When Sultana was 10 years old, fairness, equality and justice were important to her and she always wanted to be a lawyer.
Safiyah hopes to be a human rights lawyer when she grows up because it's important to stand up for people who don't have a voice against people who do, and to help make the world more just.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

References and Resources

Sultana Tafadar KC

Girls Human Rights Hub

https://www.globallegalpost.com/news/human-rights-kc-launches-non-profit-with-11-year-old-daughter-to-promote-gender-equality-1644426263

Children’s Rights Alliance for England

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What we learnt in Series 3

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 07:00:00 +0100

In this round up episode, we look back at Series 3 in which we discuss how law affects children and young people and why it's important that we all understand how the legal system works.

We have discussed how laws are involved with:

· artificial intelligence that can affect how we think and form our views

· how the NSPCC and ICO work to help keep children safe online

· how children can be involved in creating laws with children in mind

· who advises the government about writing and putting laws into practice

· our constitution, what the rule of law is and how juries work

· the laws that govern consent for medical procedures for children

We would like to say a big thank you to all our Series 3 speakers for explaining all these topics and their work in the legal system.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

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How the ICO works to protect children online

Sat, 29 Jul 2023 17:00:00 +0100

How are children protected online and who is responsible for enforcing this?

Alma-Constance and Lucinda talk to Emily Keaney, Deputy Commissioner Regulatory Policy at the Information Commissioner’s Office who tells us:

· About her role and the work of ICO

· the impact of the Children’s Code developed to protect children

· the ICO’s involvement with the the Online Safety Bill

· what can be done to stop bullying of children on social media platforms

· when is it safe for a child to have a smartphone

· how the ICO works with other organisations to help protect children online

When Emily was 10 years old she liked to play with her friends in the park and wanted to be an actor.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland

References and Resources

https://ico.org.uk/

https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/the-children-s-code-what-is-it/

https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/children-and-the-gdpr-1-0.pdf

https://www.childnet.com/help-and-advice/parents-and-carers

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What does an MP do?

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0100

What does an MP do when they are in government and in opposition and what is the role of law in politics.?

In this episode Lucinda and Alma-Constance talk to Alma’s local MP, Karen Buck a member of the Labour Party who has been a politician for over 25 years and was part of the Labour government, working at the Department for Transport.

Karen tells us:

· About her role in making laws in Parliament.

· What it was like when she was a government minister

· What opposition MPs do

· How MPs work together in commitees

· How she helps people in her constituency

· Whether the voting age should be changed from 18 to 16 across the United Kingdom

When Karen was 10 years old she loved reading and listening to pop music!

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland

References and Resources

Labour MP Westminster North. Shadow DWP Minister.

If you live in her constituency raise issues via email at buckk@parliament.uk

Twitter @KarenPBuckMP

https://www.karenbuck.org.uk

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Legal Aid

APPG for Street Children

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Who gives the government legal advice about its laws?

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 08:00:00 +0100

MPs vote to create or amend new laws in Parliament but how do they know who gives the government legal advice about the laws it wants to introduce, how they're written and then put into operation.
Alma- Constance and Lucinda ask Susanna McGibbon, the government's most senior legal official in the civil service and permanent secretary of the government legal department, which provides the full range of legal services to government departments and other public bodies.
Susanna tells us:

· Why she’s called the Treasury Solicitor

· How important it is for the rule of law to be upheld by those in power

· How the different ages that apply for children and young people that affect their rights and responsibilities are decided

· Whether children’s views are obtained about new laws

· The government legal department involvement in the Online Safety Bill

· That its important that the government legal department reflects the diversity of people in the UK

Susanna says that when she was 10 years old, she enjoyed playing sport being outside with lots of friends and loved reading and writing.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland

References and Resources

@SusannaMcGibbon

@PermsecGLD

@GovernmentLegal

https://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/treasury-solicitor-susanna-mcgibbon

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/treasury-solicitor-s-department/about

https://www.supremecourt.uk/docs/separation-of-powers-worksheets-for-teachers.pdf

At what age?

Youth Parliament

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Why are Children’s Rights in Scotland the Strongest in the UK?

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 19:00:00 +0100

Why has Scotland given children the strongest rights in the UK?
Alma- Constance and Lucinda ask Bruce Adamson, the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland.
He tells us:

· How he works with his team to promote and safeguard the rights of everyone in Scotland up to the age of 18.

· About the three laws he wanted to change to raise the age of criminal responsibility, stop the physical punishment of children and how he brought the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scottish law.

· How he works with children’s panels who asked him to work on poverty, mental health and climate change.

· How children can become a human rights defenders.

Bruce says that when he was 10 years old, he was living on a farm in New Zealand and loved sports. He was inspired by his mother who worked as a mental health nurse to help her community and when he was older, he became a lawyer and a human rights advocate.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland

References and Resources

Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland @CYPCS
@bruce_adamson

https://www.cypcs.org.uk

https://www.cypcs.org.uk/rights/uncrc/

https://www.cypcs.org.uk/positions/age-of-criminal-responsibility/

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What is the Rule of Law and why is it important?

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 15:00:00 +0100

It sounds right that the law should be applied equally to everyone – but what does this mean and what does it need to work properly? Alma- Constance and Lucinda ask Abiodun Michael Olatokun, trustee at the Law for Life Organization, past head of public and youth engagement, diversity officer and research leader for the citizen and rule of law at the Bingham Center and who is currently undertaking traineeship at Matrix Chambers to be a barrister.

He tells us:

· what the rule of law means

· why it needs access to justice, fair courts, and an independent judiciary

· the connection with human rights and international rule of law

· who is responsible for upholding the rule of law

· How the rule of law can be improved

Abiodun says that when he was 10 years old, he loved reading, was really fascinated by the idea of different worlds and why people in power make the decisions that they do.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland

References and Resources

@ab1odun
https://abiodunolatokun.com/
@LfL_Advicenow
https://publiclawproject.org.uk
@BinghamCentre
https://binghamcentre.biicl.org/projects/citizenship-and-the-rule-of-law-massive-open-online-course-mooc
https://www.citizensuk.org/about-us/
https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-youth-foundation/council-of-europe-publications

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Why we have juries and are they a good thing?

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 17:00:00 +0000

Why we have juries and are they a good thing?
Each year about 200,000 people undertake jury service, and they play a vital role in deciding the facts and evidence in trials and inquests. Recently, Lucinda was a juror and Alma-Constance asks about her experience and we talk to Professor Leslie Thomas KC about why it is so important for ordinary people to be involved in trials and inquests to ensure fairness, transparency, and trust in our legal system.
Leslie tells us:

· what a jury means and the cases they are involved with

· how jurors are chosen and the role they play in the legal process

· what happens if they can’t agree on a verdict

· whether we can trust ordinary people to make the right decisions

Leslie says that when he was 10 years old, he had a huge imagination and wanted to be an adventurer going to exotic places and exploring the world. He sees his role as a barrister to pursue justice and help the marginalised and voiceless.

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland

References and Resources

@_lesliethomas

Garden Court Chambers

Do Right and Fear No One (Simon & Schuster) Professor Leslie Thomas KC

https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/juries

http://www.gov.uk/jury-service

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Who makes the law and what do animal skins have to do with Acts!

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 13:00:00 +0000

We must obey the law whether we know about it or not!
In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda ask Dr. Mari Takayanagi, historian, author, and the senior Parliamentary Archivist - part of a team which manages the more than 4 million historic records going back more than 500 years at the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Mari tells us:

· About the Magna Carta and the oldest Act and how they both mention children

· Why Acts were written on animal skins

· Why we need to know about laws created long ago

· How making laws has changed over the centuries

· How people find out about the current laws

Mari says that when she was 10 years old she loved being in the library and reading books. Her favourite historical object is the suffragette banner unfurled in the House of Commons in 1908 as part of the campaign for votes for women.

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you!
Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland

References and Resources

https://archives.parliament.uk

Virtual Tour of Parliamentary Archive (Suffragette banner at 28:07 minutes)

https://learning.parliament.uk/en/

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/

https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/

Necessary Women: The Untold Story of Parliament’s Working Women by Dr Elizabeth Hallam Smith and Dr Mari Takayanagi

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When can children consent to medical treatment?

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 11:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda ask about when children can make decisions about medical treatment and why sometimes a court is involved. They talk to Imogen Goold, Professor of Medical Law at St Anne's College Oxford university and Gresham visiting professor, as she is an expert in the area of how doctors and parents talk to children about illness, their rights, and responsibilities and how the courts become involved in these decisions.

Imogen tells us

· who makes the decisions about children’s medical treatment at different ages

· what happens if the parents disagree with doctors

· what happens if a young person disagrees with their parents about medical treatment plans

· And how judges make their decisions when asked to decide about this issue

Imogen says that when she was 10 years old she really liked reading books. and thought she wanted to be a doctor as she loved sciences. She also loved baking and entered the Great British Bake Off and met Mary Berry who liked her scones!

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland

References and Resources

@ImogenGoold

https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/people/imogen-goold

https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/news/2021-11-02-professor-imogen-goold-gives-gresham-college-lecture-children-and-consent-medical

Children and young people- Consent to treatment

Operation Ouch

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What is a constitution and how does it work?

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 08:00:00 +0000

How does our the constitution work to controls those with power over citizens and make sure governments act properly? Alma-Constance and Lucinda talk to leading human rights barrister, Adam Wagner of Doughty Street Chambers who he has written a new book called ‘Emergency State’ which looks at the way that lockdown laws during the pandemic were made and the bigger picture of why the way laws are made and enforced is such an important topic to understand.

He tells us

· Why countries have a constitution and how it controls the government from having too much power

· The type of constitution we have in the United Kingdom and whether it would be better to have a written one

· Why the law making process was different during the pandemic and the problems that caused

· How people can challenge decisions made by government and whether legal challenges are an effective way to help people

Adam tells Alma-Constance that when he was 10 years old, he wanted to be an astronaut, and why he became a human rights lawyer and his daughter tells us what she thinks of having a daddy as a lawyer who appears on the television and radio!

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland.

References and Resources

@adamwagner1

Emergency State

UK Human Rights Blog,

Adam set up and hosts the Better Human Podcast.

EachOther http://www.eachother.org.uk

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Why it is important to challenge organisations with power

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 09:00:00 +0000

**WARNING – this episodes mentions the Manchester bomb attack, self-harm and death in the context of inquests**

Why do some people need to bring legal challenges against the police; and why it is important for people to be able to challenge organisations with power? In this episode, Alma- Constance and Lucinda speak to Christian Weaver, a barrister from Garden Court North Chambers in Manchester who specialises in inquests, public inquiries, civil actions against the police and public authorities, prison law, and public law. He was ranked as a Tier 1 rising star barrister in the newly published Legal 500. He sat as the UK’s Youth Delegate to the Congress of the Council of Europe in 2017 and led Congress’ youth human rights working group. And is the author of a book ‘The Law in 60 Seconds: A Pocket Guide to Your Rights.’

He tells us about:

· the ‘Stop and Search’ powers of the police and why they can create problems for young people and your rights

· the inquest procedure and explains why social media was mentioned in a recent case.

· why there should be more education about law for young people

· the importance of diversity in the legal system

When Christian was 10 years old, he wanted to be a table tennis player!

Written, edited and produced by Lucinda Acland

References and Resources

https://www.gcnchambers.co.uk/barrister/christian-weaver/
The Law in 60 Seconds: A Pocket Guide to Your Rights
YouTube videos
@ChristianKamali

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How young people can be protected online

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0100

In this episode, Alma- Constance and Lucinda want to know more about the risks that children face online, and how they can be protected when they use the internet.
They speak to Andy Burrows from the NSPCC, who is head of child safety online policy.

He tells us about common risks that children can face online
Whether there are laws to protect children online
What children can do if they experience bullying
What protections social media platforms use
Advice about the minimum settings on devices and use of to help children stay safe on the internet

When Andy was 10 years old he loved playing football and had a Nintendo game boy. He thinks that although he didn’t know what he’d go on to be as an adult, he’s sure he’d pleased to know he would do a job that can make an impact to help people have safer lives online.

If you need help or advice, Andy says don’t hesitate to contact the NSPCC Helpline. You can contact them 7 days a week, online: help@nspcc.org.uk or on the phone: 0808 800 5000 and you can also search online for Childline or call on 0800 1111.

References and Resources

Twitter @_andyburrows
https://www.nspcc.org.uk
The Children's Code
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/fundraising/number-day/number-day-resources-2021/online-safety-quiz-ks3-2020-final.pdf

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you. If you have any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, www.kidslaw.info or through social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

Please subscribe, rate, and share with your friends!

Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends.
See you soon in the next episode!

How laws can protect the impact of the internet on our thoughts and views

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 07:00:00 +0100

In this episode, Alma- Constance and Lucinda discuss the role of the internet and how it can affect the way we think and how laws can protect the way we can express our thoughts and views online.

They speak to Susie Alegre, international human rights barrister at Doughty Street Chambers and author of Freedom to Think. She is a pioneer in looking at digital human rights and her book explores the impact of artificial intelligence on the human rights to freedom of thought and opinion.

She tells us about:

· why we need laws to protect how people think and express their views online

· How technology can affect what we think and form views

· The impact on children and young people

When Susie was 10 years old, she loved writing reading and talking and interviewing her pony!

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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References and Resources

https://susiealegre.com

Freedom to Think -The long struggle to liberate our minds

https://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/barristers/susie-alegre-associate

https://5rightsfoundation.com/our-work/child-online-protection/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUyLDpyzoJk

https://www.cigionline.org/static/documents/PB_no.165.pdf

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What we learnt in Series 2

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 08:00:00 +0100

In this short round up episode , we look back on what we have learnt in Series 2 about how law affects children and young people and why it's important that we understand how the legal system works. We have discussed:

How the courts deal with different types of cases and the difference between criminal and civil courts
The work of the House of Lords and how people become members of the House of Lords
The appeal process and the work of the Supreme Court
The work of solicitors, barristers, magistrates and tribunals
The role of law in banning witchcraft and even Christmas!
How the law deals with children who get caught up in gangs and how to protect them from exploitation.

We would like to say a big thank you to all our Series 2 speakers for coming on the podcast and explaining all these legal issues in such a clear and interesting way.

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you!

Tell us what you think of Series 2, and if you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview for our next series 3, please contact us through the website, www.kidslaw.info or through social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends.
See you soon in the next episode!

How the law affects children and criminal gangs.

Mon, 09 May 2022 14:00:00 +0100

In this episode, Alma- Constance and Lucinda talk to Sarah Forshaw QC, an experienced specialist criminal barrister who is the co-head of chambers at 5 King's Bench Walk in London, about the law relating to children and gangs.

She explains:

Why some children and young people want to join a street gang and what can happen if they get caught up in crime;
What county lines means and why gangs are using this method of involving children;
That a child or young person is entitled to legal advice if the police wants to question them; and
What we can do if we think that a child or young person might be at risk of being exploited in a gang.

When Sarah was 10 years old, she says she was a bit of a bookworm and she wanted to be a vet and then an actress, but her father suggested she should be a barrister.

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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Resources
If in immediate danger contact the Police by dialling 999
If worried contact NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000
Childline - free and confidential helpline 0800 1111

Children’s Commissioner for England numbers and report on gangs

Children’s Society work on criminal gangs exploitation

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All about the work of tribunals

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 10:00:00 +0100

In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda hear more about the important work of tribunals which is a dispute resolution system designed to be easier, quicker, cheaper and less formal than using courts.

There are 14 different types of tribunals in the United Kingdom, which cover lots of areas of our lives to do with employment, benefits and immigration and local government decisions and between them they have almost 6,000 judges and members.

We speak to Senior President of Tribunals, Rt. Hon. Sir Keith John Lindblom, who tell us:

· how the tribunals system holds public bodies accountable and people's rights are protected

· that there are specialist expert panel members to help the judge make better informed decisions

· there are tribunals for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) to help them resolve problems with their education and training

· how important it is to hear children's voices and children can give information to the tribunal by drawing pictures or making videos by text or email.

When Keith was 10 years old, he was very interested in being an architect because he liked drawing and design. Interestingly, he worked in planning as a barrister and had to work quite often with architects and other designers and so satisfied his ambition in a different way.

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

Please subscribe, rate, and share with your friends!

Resources
https://www.judiciary.uk/announcements/senior-president-of-tribunals-annual-report-2021-is-published/

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/601481/administrative-justice-tribunals-final-progress-report.pdf

https://www.judiciary.uk/about-the-judiciary/who-are-the-judiciary/judicial-roles/tribunals/tribunals/

Courts & Tribunals website

The First-tier Tribunal

https://www.judiciary.uk/about-the-judiciary/the-justice-system/jurisdictions/tribunal-jurisdiction/

https://www.ipsea.org.uk/what-is-the-send-tribunal

https://schoolexclusionproject.com

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The role of solicitors - I.Stephanie Boyce

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Alma- Constance and Lucinda learn more about solicitors, their work and role in the legal system. They speak to I. Stephanie Boyce, who is the President of the Law Society of England and Wales, which represents over 200,000 solicitors.

She is the 177th president, the sixth female, the first black office holder, the first person of colour, and the second in-house solicitor in almost 50 years to become the President of the Law Society of England and Wales.

· She tells us about the role of a solicitor

· What it means to be an officer of the court

· About the work of the Law Society

· How important it is that we have lawyers that represent the society they serve and that they must uphold the rule of law

When Stephanie was 10 years old, she says she was always speaking up for something and a bit of an activist. She was good at athletics and loved ketchup!

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

Please subscribe, rate, and share with your friends!

Resources

Twitter @IStephanieBoyc1

https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/

https://first100years.org.uk/digital-museum/videos/

https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/about-us/our-governance/chief-executive-and-office-holders

https://legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.co.uk/blog/2021/11/24/the-hearing-episode87-i-stephanie-boyce-law-society-of-england-wales/

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All rise in the Crown Court!

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 19:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Alma- Constance and Lucinda learn more about the work of judges and juries in the crown court. They speak to Her Honour Judge Deborah Taylor, who is the Resident Judge at Southwark Crown Court in London, which is the fourth largest in the country and she is also Recorder of Westminster. She also sits in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division and in the High Court Queen’s Bench Division and Administrative Court. She is the Treasurer of the Inner temple and was a Judicial Appointments Commissioner from 2011-2013.

She tells us how judges manage serious criminal cases and the qualities required to be a good judge,
about juries and what a good and reliable system it is,
the type of sentences available for adults and young people
how Inns of Court help financially support students wanting to be barristers,
about the High Sheriff’s awards to citizens who have given outstanding service in helping the police carry out their duties; and
why the size of a robing room can bring about equality for barristers!

When Deborah was 10 years old, she says she was quite rebellious always asking questions about why rules were in place and always arguing about whether we should obey them or not and she was a bit of a bookworm too!

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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Resources

https://www.judiciary.uk/you-and-the-judiciary/going-to-court/crown-court/

https://www.gov.uk/courts/crown-court

https://www.innertemple.org.uk/contact/

https://www.legalcheek.com/2017/08/female-barristers-granted-access-to-top-london-courts-male-only-robing-room/

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/feb/21/juries-work-best-research

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What do magistrates do?

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 17:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Alma- Constance and Lucinda hear more about the important work of magistrates as about 95 % of cases are heard before ordinary people in Magistrates' Courts and these magistrates make up 85% of the judiciary in England and Wales, who sit in criminal family and youth courts.

They speak to Katherine Sirrell, who is a magistrate and deputy chair of the Young Magistrates Network, which is a part of the Magistrates Association.

· She tells us about the difference between magistrates and judges and why we have magistrates

· The type of cases they hear

· Why it’s important to have magistrates who are representative of their community

· What happens if children need to appear in Magistrates' Courts

When Katherine was 10 years old, she was very curious about the world and really liked stories and wanted to be a journalist, as she loved writing and liked the idea of finding out the truth.

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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Resources
Magistrates Association: Magistrates Association > What We Do > MA Diversity and Inclusion Networks > Young Magistrates Network (magistrates-association.org.uk)

Young Citizens (mock trials): Home - Young Citizens

Schools consent project: Schools Consent Project | Home

Justice: Justice: advancing access to human rights and the rule of law

Report into the voices of young people in the youth court: Young people’s voices on youth court | Centre for Justice Innovation

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All about barristers - Derek Sweeting QC

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda find out what a barrister does and talk to Derek Sweeting QC, President of the Bar Council 2021 who is now a High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division and a Recorder in the Crown and County Courts.
We discuss:

the difference between a solicitor and a barrister
why some barristers wear wigs and gowns
why it is so important for the Bar to be independent and how that is related to the rule of law
why diversity at the Bar is essential for access to justice

Derek also tells us that when he was 10 years old he was really interested in science, loved reading science fiction and watching Star Trek!

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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Who banned Christmas? Special episode

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 08:00:00 +0000

In this special Christmas episode Alma-Constance and Lucinda find out if there are any laws that affect Christmas. We talk to Russell Sandberg, Professor of Law at the School of Law and Politics at Cardiff University in Wales, who has a particular interest in law, history, and religion and who tells us why we have laws that affect how people celebrate events together.

He tells us about laws created to keep Christmas Day special and we hear about feasts, rude carols and what a court jester called Roland had to do for King John!

Russell also tells us about Oliver Cromwell and the Puritan parliament who banned Christmas in 1647 .

He tells us about his work as a professor of law teaching students and researching and campaigning for improvements in the law and he thinks that that we should always consider how laws affect children.

He also tells us that when he was 10 years old, he loved writing, watching TV and films and that he still loves superhero films!

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you. If you have any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, www.kidslaw.info or through social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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The High Court and how judges are appointed

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda talk to the Honourable Mrs Justice Joanna Smith DBE, a High Court Judge, to ask her about the cases that are heard in the High Court and how judges are appointed to the High Court. We discuss:

· the three different types of courts within the High Court which deal with civil cases and where are they based

· what Joanna does in a typical working day as a judge

· what happens if people aren’t happy with a decision in the high court

· how she became a barrister and judge

Jo also tells us that when she 10 years old she was very proud of being able to stand on her head!

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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What happens in the House of Lords?

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda talk to David Anderson, QC Baron Anderson of Ipswich KBE, a barrister and life peer, who is a member of the House of Lords.

We discuss the work of the House of Lords and ask:

How they improve legislation through committees and debates
How it fits in with House of Commons in making laws
How people become members of the House of Lords

David tells us a couple of funny stories too, involving bats and dogs!

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you.
What do you think of the episodes so far?
If you have any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, www.kidslaw.info or through social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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Do witches really exist and how do lawyers get involved?

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +0100

A Hallowe'en Special!
In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda are talking to Kirsty Brimelow QC, a barrister and expert in international human rights, public and criminal law.
We talk about

the history of laws about witchcraft and why this is still relevant today in the UK
the balance of the freedom for people's right to believe what they wish and the need to protect people from harm
the role of human rights law and international organisations like the United Nations

Kirsty Brimelow QC chaired the first UN Workshop on Witchcraft and Human Rights in Geneva in 2017 and worked to introduce a Resolution into the United Nations on the elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks. This resolution was passed by the United Nations Human Rights Council on 12 July 2021. This means that the UN has condemned these practices.

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you. What do you think of the episodes so far?
If you have any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, www.kidslaw.info or through social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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The Supreme Court and why is it important in our justice system.

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +0100

In this episode , Alma-Constance and Lucinda speak to a judge of the Supreme Court, Lord Stephens of Creevyloughgare who worked as a judge in Northern Ireland before joining the Supreme Court in 2020.

We discuss the fact that in the UK, we have three different legal systems, one for Scotland, one for Northern Ireland, and one for both England and Wales, and how the Supreme Court sits at the top of the courts in the four countries as the final court of appeal.

Lord Stephens tells us about the system of reviewing courts' decisions by a process of appeal. He explains that the Supreme Court concentrates solely on discussing and deciding issues of general public importance. He also explains how our legal system is different from other legal systems in that we have judge-made law as well as the law made in Parliament.

He thinks that justice and the rule of law are as important for children as they are for adults, since children are affected by laws and court decisions in many different ways. He also tells us about his work in deciding cases that have involved children.

Lord Stephens says that children can expect to be treated fairly and importantly, as individuals, to have their views taken into account. Decisions affecting them need to be properly explained and although they may not yet be able to vote, he thinks that day is not far off.

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you. What do you think of the episodes so far?
If you have any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, www.kidslaw.info or through social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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How does the court system work and what do judges do?

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 08:00:00 +0100

Welcome to Series 2 of the Kids Law Podcast!

In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda discuss why we need to have courts and judges and how children are treated if they need to go to court.

We interview the Lord Chief Justice Ian Burnett, who is the head of the judiciary of England and Wales and the president of the courts of England and Wales. He tells us about the different types of courts and judges.

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you. What do you think of the programmes so far?
If you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, www.kidslaw.info or through social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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What we learnt in Series 1

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 07:00:00 +0100

In this short round up, we look back on everything we have learnt in Series 1, and all the questions still left to ask our guests in future series!

In Series 1 we have discussed issues such as:

How laws are made
The difference between criminal and civil law
What the “age of criminal responsibility” really means
How the police enforce the law to protect citizens
Youth courts, and how they are used to help children through the legal process
The highest court in the UK: the Supreme Court, and its role in ensuring justice for UK citizens

We would like to say a big thank you to all our Series 1 speakers for coming on the podcast and explaining all these legal issues in such a clear and interesting way.

We have lots of great speakers and questions lined up for Series 2, so keep your eyes peeled!

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you!

Tell us what you think of Series 1, and if you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, www.kidslaw.info or through social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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See you in Series 2!

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Does Parliament take the voices of children into account when it makes new laws?

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 08:00:00 +0100

In our tenth and final episode of Series 1, Alma-Constance and Lucinda speak to Darren Jones, the MP for Bristol North West, about his job as a Member of Parliament.

Darren discussed his move from being a lawyer who puts the laws into practice, and becoming a politician. As a MP, Darren is in a position to discuss, change and introduce new laws, and in order to represent the views of all the people who live in his constituency, he takes the time to listen to the voices of not just adults, but children too.

In England and Wales, the legal voting age is 18. This means that the voices of those under 18 are often not taken into account when a new government is voted in. Scotland has now changed the voting age to 16, and Darren explains why he thinks this is something that should also happen in England and Wales.

If you live in Darren’s constituency, Bristol North West, you can contact him and raise any issues via email at darren.jones.mp@parliament.uk

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you!

Tell us what you think of our episode, and if you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, www.kidslaw.info or through social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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See you in the next episode!

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When does a child end up in foster care?

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 08:00:00 +0100

In this episode, Alma-Constance talks to MP Edward Timpson CBE about his experience and knowledge of the foster care system in the UK. Ed is the MP for Eddisbury and was a family law barrister in Cheshire before joining the Conservative Party and serving as the Minister for Children and Families from 2015 to 2017. They discuss the difference between fostering and adoption, legal changes to make sure young people are looked after for as long as possible, and the importance of vulnerable children’s views and feelings being taken into account.

Alma-Constance asks Ed about the changes he believes still need to be made within the foster system, such as giving foster parents more freedom when looking after children, and Ed encourages young people to speak to their MPs so that their voices are heard when it comes to laws that affect them.

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you!

Tell us what you think of our episode, and if you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website or through social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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See you in the next episode!

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Why do we need a criminal justice system?

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 08:00:00 +0100

In our eighth episode, Alma-Constance tells Lucinda that she was shocked to find out that she has reached the age of criminal responsibility at just 10 years old and wanted to find out why we need a criminal justice system and how does it affect children. Their guest for this episode is the person who calls themselves the Secret Barrister, who is a junior barrister specialising in criminal law, and author and blogger.

The Secret Barrister does not want to reveal their identity in public and wants to be able explain the law plainly so people can understand how it affects us all. Their words were read out by Alice Acland to keep their voice anonymous.

In our previous interviews with Max Hill and Cressida Dick we have heard that very few children get caught up in crime, but of course when they do it can have very serious consequences for them and has a huge impact on their lives and their family. Some people find it confusing that someone accused of a crime should be allowed to have a lawyer defending them. But this is a very important principle that everyone is entitled to a fair hearing especially when it is the state, the government who is prosecuting them and they have resources to do this, and the consequences can be so serious.

You can find more about The Secret Barrister on their blog: https://thesecretbarrister.com

The Secret Barrister’s first book and Sunday Times No.1 Bestseller, “Stories of The Law and How It’s Broken”, was published by Pan Macmillan in March 2018, and was in the top-ten bestseller list for over a year.

Their new book, “Fake Law”, was published by Picador in September 2020.

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you!

Tell us what you think of our episode, and if you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, kidslaw.info or on social media on Twitter @KidsLawInfo, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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Does the law control when a child can work and get paid for it?

Thu, 13 May 2021 08:00:00 +0100

In our latest episode Alma-Constance and Lucinda tackle another big topic - children and work.

Their guest was employment lawyer Kevin Poulter, a partner in solicitors firm Freeths, who advises people about the rights and duties of employment.

As kids grow, it is exciting to think that they can earn their own money and then make decisions about what to do with it. Taking up some work experience can be a good way for a child to find out more about the world of work which can be useful later on in life, as they decide about the types of work they may want to do as adults.

Looking back in time, it was the case that many children had to work, unless their family was wealthy. They were expected to work as soon as they could and the type of work depended on where you lived either in the countryside, towns and cities. Indeed, some of the first employment-related laws concerned children.

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you! Tell us what you think of our podcast and, if you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us on via our email, website - www. kidslaw.info or on social media.

Follow us on Twitter @KidsLawInfo, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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See you in the next episode!

More reading

https://www.gov.uk/child-employment

Is it legal? A parents’ guide to the law

https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/pdf/FPI%20is%20it%20legal%20Feb_08.pdf

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/in-the-home/home-alone/

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When and how do the police get involved in the lives of children?

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 08:00:00 +0100

When Alma-Constance discussed the age of criminal responsibility starting at 10 years old in England and Wales with DPP director Max Hill QC (in our episode 2), Max talked about the police investigating when people commit crimes. Alma-Constance was curious to know more about the work the police do and how it affects children.

Our guest for this episode - to tackle these questions - was Dame Cressida Dick, who is the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service which means she is head of the police force in London. The Met is one of the 45 police forces in the UK - the force, by officer numbers, is the largest in the United Kingdom by a significant margin, and one of the biggest in the world.

Alma quizzes Cressida on what happens if a child is suspected of a crime, the role of police officers in schools, changes in crime levels since the pandemic and how girls can keep safe at school and elsewhere.

Cressida tells her how, at 10, she was a shy but active child who enjoyed sports and the outdoors, was ‘not brilliant’ at school work, was untidy and ‘quite naughty’.

She puts her success down a love of the job and hard work as well as the support and confidence given to her by those around her growing up who gave her a sense she could achieve whatever she wanted to.

She recounts the first arrest she ever made, in Soho in 1984, of a man attempting to break into a red telephone box with a screwdriver.

You can read more about the Metropolitan Police and the police and how the get involved in children's lives:

https://www.met.police.uk/cy-GB/heddluoedd/metropolitan-police/areas/campaigns/2018/celebrating-100-years-of-women-policing-in-london/100-years-strong/cressida-dick/

https://www.met.police.uk/notices/met/commissioner-statement-working-with-londons-communities-build-further-trust-confidence-police/

https://www.police.uk/pu/support-services/support-children-young-people-crime/

https://www.gov.uk/if-my-child-gets-in-trouble-with-police

Also if you need to ask some legal questions and need guidance:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/children-and-young-people/child-abuse/police-involvement/child-abuse-police-involvement/

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you!

Tell us what you think of our episode, and if you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, kidslaw.info or on social media on Twitter @KidsLawInfo, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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What happens to children when parents split up?

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 08:00:00 +0000

In our fifth episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda take a look at the difficult situation of when parents split up. Alma-Constance talks to Charlotte Bradley, who is a partner and Head of the Family Law department in a firm of solicitors called Kingsley Napley. Charlotte is also a mediator and has helped many families sort out their problems and campaigned for the voices of children to be heard when family relationships break down. She also has personal experience of a divorce herself and explains how children can be helped through the legal process.

Alma -Constance asks her why lawyers get involved and whether families always have to go to court. She asks how the opinions of children are heard and who can help children if they need to make decisions about living or seeing their parents.

Charlotte tells us that children can often feel caught in the middle of the arguments between their parents. She says that it is important if the child can't tell their parents how they feel that the child finds an adult they trust, for example a teacher, to speak to. Children should ask if they can speak to a therapist or a counsellor as many schools provide counselling for children precisely to support them through such difficult times.

There are also organisations that can help:

Childline - a free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything. You can speak to a counsellor every day from 7.30am - 3:30am on weekdays and 9am - 3.30am on weekends. Call free on 0800 1111, or use their 121 chat service

NSPCC - helpline Monday to Friday 8am – 10pm and 9am – 6pm at the weekend. Call 0808 800 5000

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you!

Tell us what you think of our episode, and if you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, kidslaw.info or on social media on Twitter @KidsLawInfo, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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What is Justice?

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Every year there is a justice week - and this year in 2021 it is in the first week of March. The purpose of Justice Week is to help people understand their rights and responsibilities, and how laws are made and changed.

But what does justice actually mean?

In this episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda Acland explore this question with Lord Neuberger, a very senior judge who was president of the Supreme Court and is now a member of the House of Lords.

David tells us why justice is important, who is responsible for making sure we have justice in our country and what he thinks would happen if we didn't have justice.
He also describes what he was like when he was 10 years old and his journey to becoming a judge, even though he wasn't sure what he wanted to be when when he was younger.
He thinks it's very important for young people (and adults too), to understand more about how laws are made and what they mean, so they can make informed decisions such as voting for MPs, who are the ones who make the laws that we all have to obey.
David also has encouraging words of advice for young people if they are not sure what career to follow.

You can find out more about Justice Week 2021 here:

· https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/en/campaigns/justice-week

· https://www.youngcitizens.org/the-big-legal-lesson-2021

And read more about the statue of Lady Justice here:

· https://symbolsandsecrets.london/2017/08/10/justice/

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you!

Tell us what you think of our episode, and if you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, kidslaw.info or on social media on Twitter @KidsLawInfo, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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Can you really become a criminal at 10?

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 07:00:00 +0000

In our third episode, Alma-Constance tells Lucinda that she was shocked to find out that when she turns 10 years old, she reaches the age of criminal responsibility.
Alma talks to Max Hill QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions who is the head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the organisation which decides whether to prosecute a person after considering the evidence given to them by the police.

Max describes what happens if the police need to investigate a situation where a child does something that is very seriously wrong and what happens if the child does need to go to court. Alma-Constance and Max discuss why some children end up committing crimes and the best ways of helping children keep out of trouble and avoiding being influenced and exploited by older people.

Max tells Alma -Constance that when he was 10 years old he enjoyed playing with his younger brother, and when grew up he decided he wanted to work in the law to help people get justice for things that have gone wrong. He thinks that everyone should understand more about the laws that affect them.

You can read more about the Crown Prosecution Service and Max Hill QC’s work as the Director of Public Prosecutions .

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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What are children allowed to do under Covid 19 Laws?

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 08:00:00 +0000

In our second episode, nine year old Alma-Constance quizzes leading human rights barrister, Adam Wagner of Doughty Street Chambers about the current Covid 19 laws and how she can celebrate her upcoming birthday; what the laws mean for children whose parents are separated and why some children are still going to school.
Since the beginning of the pandemic Adam has been explaining the often complex and confusing coronavirus regulations on Twitter, You Tube and across TV and Radio.
Adam tells Alma-Constance that when he was 10 years old, he wanted to be an astronaut, and why eventually he became a human rights lawyer.

Adam set up and hosts the Better Human Podcast. He founded both the multi-award winning human rights charity EachOther and the acclaimed UK Human Rights Blog, and is a sought after legal commentator on social media (@adamwagner1), television and radio. He set up and hosts the Better Human Podcast.

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you!
Tell us what you think of our episode, and if you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, kidslaw.info or on social media on Twitter @KidsLawInfo, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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Does the law ensure the voices of children are heard?

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 15:00:00 +0000

In our first episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda Acland talk to Lady Brenda Hale about how laws are made and how they are used to help children, when when adults are arguing and children are caught in the middle.
Lady Hale tells her story about how she became interested in the way that laws can be used to make sure that people are treated fairly; and how she was involved in creating the Children Act, to ensure that the opinions and views of children are heard by adults.

Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you! Tell us what you think of our episode, and if you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, kidslaw.info or on social media - follow us on Twitter @KidsLawInfo, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org

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Welcome to Kids Law!

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our KidsLaw podcast, where we discuss children and the laws that affect them as they grow up. In each monthly episode, your hosts, Alma-Constance Denis-Smith and Lucinda Acland talk to people whose job it is to help and protect children and discuss with them what children should know and understand about the impact of law in their lives, about keeping safe and how to make good decisions about their lives.

We really want to hear from you . So if you've got any questions, you'd like us to answer, please contact us through the website, kidslaw.info or on social media - follow us on Twitter @KidsLawInfo, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo

We can't wait to get started. So subscribe, rate, and share with your friends. See you in the next episode!

Listen to Kids Law wherever you get your podcasts.

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