The Law Show

• Death and the Law

  It’s not something most of us think about - and it’s not something most of us want to think about, but sooner or later it’s something we’ll all encounter. When someone passes away - legally, what do you have to do? It’s not immediately obvious, nobody really talks about it, and there a whole host of legal obligations that have to be considered, from declaring the death, to the circumstances when a coroner becomes involved. And then there’s a dead person’s estate and the grant of probate. In this episode, Dr Joelle Grogan and a team of experts will guide you through the process. Also on the programme: A teenage boy recently lost a High Court case against his parents. He was unhappy that they had placed him in a Ghanaian boarding school because they feared that he was becoming involved in criminal activity in London. The case rested on parental responsibility, and the judge ruled that their actions were within the scope of decisions that parents can make - and that the state shouldn't intervene. But what is "parental responsibility" and is there a situation where a child can divorce their parents? Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producer: Ravi Naik Editor: Tara McDermott Contributors: Rachel Roche, from Roche Legal in York Dr Imogen Jones, Associate Professor in Law at the University of Leeds Melinda Giles, Law Society Council member and part of their Wills & Equity Committee Tracey Moloney, from Moloney Family Solicitors

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• The human cost of court delays

  Justice delayed is justice denied - the court backlog in England and Wales has reached a record high and suspects being charged with new offences are regularly told they may not get a trial until 2027. Some courts are already booking court dates for 2028. The government has commissioned an independent review of criminal courts to work out how to cut waiting times. A victim of crime and a criminal defence solicitor tell Dr Joelle Grogan about the human cost of court delays. Also on the programme, the MP introducing a law to end the abuse of Lasting Powers of Attorney and what can someone do when their ex refuses to pay child maintenance?Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik and Louise Clarke Editor: Tara McDermott Contributors: Tracey Moloney, solicitor, Moloney Family Solicitors Stephen Davies, criminal defence solicitor at Edwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors Tom Franklin, CEO of the Magistrates Association Professor Carolyn Stephens, whose father was a victim of LPA abuse Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP for Leeds North East.

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• Genocide, war crimes and justice

  Since the October 7th attacks by Hamas on Israel, and the IDF military invasion of the Gaza strip, terms like 'war crimes', 'crimes against humanity' and 'genocide' have been used when discussing the conflict.Warrants have been issued by the International Criminal Court in the Hague for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant, and a Hamas commander Mohammed Deif - who has since died in an air strike - citing allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.In this special episode of the Law Show, we'll ask what are the legal definitions of these terms, how victims in a conflict situation can seek justice, and we'll explain the difficulties of gathering evidence in war and proving claims in an international court. Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producer: Louise Clarke Editor: Tara McDermott

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• Expert witnesses in criminal trials

  Lucy Letby is serving 15 whole-life sentences after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Countess of Chester hospital - with two attempts on one of her victims - between June 2015 and June 2016. But a campaign to clear her is being led by 14 medical experts who say there is no medical evidence for murders or attacks on those babies in her ward at the hospital. The expert witness at her trial, Dr Dewi Evans, has consistently defended the evidence he provided to the court. So what is an expert witness? When is their evidence required in court, what do they do, and who pays their fees? Also on this week's programme: Prince Harry wanted his day in court to face News Group Newspapers, but it never happened. Why did his case end so abruptly? And marry in haste repent at leisure - or not. The "legal queen" Tracey Moloney on annulment, divorce and why you can't choose between them. Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik and Louise Clarke Editor: Tara McDermottContributors: Retired Crown Court Judge Nigel Lithman KC Amel Alghrani Professor of Law at the University of Liverpool Aejaz Mussa, Barrister, One Law Chambers

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• Joint enterprise - what is it and why is it controversial?

  A parliamentary inquiry has just started work into the law around Joint enterprise.Joint enterprise is contentious because if a person is seen to be involved in a crime, from knowing about it, to egging someone on, being present, or even being able to predict that someone is likely to use a weapon like a gun - then they could be considered as guilty as the person who pulled the trigger. It has a long history, but in recent times, it has been used as a way of prosecuting murder, especially in cases involving groups of people, when it's not known who carried out a killing. But is it being applied fairly? The CPS says “We choose the right charges for the right people based on the evidence in front of us. We look objectively at the evidence before making our own decisions.and they add that “The CPS carefully monitors joint enterprise prosecutions, with senior legal oversight over every case to ensure that our approach is fair and proportionate.”But campaigners say joint enterprise disproportionately results in working-class and black youths being prosecuted and convicted. Presenter: Dr Joelle Grogan Producers: Ravi Naik, Arlene Gregorius and Bob Howard Editor Tara McDermottContributors: Alexander Hughes, Head Judicial Assistant at The Supreme Court "Cleeshay" who was convicted of murder under joint enterprise Jan Cunliffe, co-founder of Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association (JENGbA) Tracey Moloney, solicitor, Moloney family Law Dr Sam Fowles, a barrister and author David Duncan, solicitor and Director of the legal firm Duncan & McConnell in Dundee

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