Kids Law

**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

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 [email protected], 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!

 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected]

Please subscribe, rate, and share with your friends!

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 [email protected], 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!

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!

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: [email protected]

Please subscribe, rate, and share with your friends!

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

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 [email protected], 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!

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: [email protected]

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 [email protected], 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!

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.

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: [email protected]

Please subscribe, rate, and share with your friends!

 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

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 [email protected], 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!

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. 

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: [email protected]

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

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 [email protected], 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!

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!

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: [email protected]

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/

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 [email protected], 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!

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! 

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: [email protected]

Please subscribe, rate, and share with your friends!

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

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 [email protected], 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!

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.

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: [email protected]

Please subscribe, rate, and share with your friends!

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

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 [email protected], 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!

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!

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: [email protected]

Please subscribe, rate, and share with your friends!

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 [email protected], 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!