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

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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See you soon in the next episode!

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

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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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

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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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. 

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

Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends.
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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/

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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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.

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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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.                                                                                                       

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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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

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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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.

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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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

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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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

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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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

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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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.

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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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

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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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
NKLChttps://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

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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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

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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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

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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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

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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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.

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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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

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

Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends.
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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 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 

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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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

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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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/

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

Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends.
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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 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

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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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                                                                                 

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

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