Kids Law

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
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!

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
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!

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

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! 
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!

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 
Harrow Law Centre
Behaviour in schools: sanctions and exclusions
Discriminatory exclusions
School exclusion: a review on disproportionate exclusion of certain children
School suspensions and permanent exclusions
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!