This is a podcast about children and the laws that affect them as they grow up. Alma-Constance, our host, decided to start the podcast in 2021, when she turned 10 years old. Living in England, UK, she discovered that at 10 years old she would have reached the age of criminal responsibility. This is one of the youngest ages of criminalising children in the developed world. That was a pretty shocking discovery for her especially as she realised that she and her peers knew nothing about what th ...
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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 intellect…
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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…
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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 Boar…
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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 …
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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 e…
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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 Immig…
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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 pro…
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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 le…
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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 h…
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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 c…
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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…
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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…
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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 governm…
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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 o…
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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 th…
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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 peop…
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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: · A…
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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 a…
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In this episode, Alma- Constance and Lucinda ask about how the constitution works to controls those with power over citizens and make sure governments act properly. They 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 duri…
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**WARNING – this episodes mentions the Manchester bomb attack, self-harm and death in the context of inquests** In this episode, Alma- Constance and Lucinda discuss why some people have brought legal challenges against the police, and why it is important for people to be able to challenge organisations with power, such as the police and social medi…
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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 child…
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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…
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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 Lord…
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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 cr…
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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 immigr…
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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 …
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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…
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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 d…
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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 …
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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 celebr…
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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 …
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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 m…
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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 …
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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 W…
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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. …
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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 pro…
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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, an…
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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 betwee…
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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…
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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 wha…
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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 epi…
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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 camp…
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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,…
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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 afte…
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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 pa…
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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; a…
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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,…
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