OPINION - The most valuable lesson for kids? If they see it, they realise they can be it

Lots of people assume that I must’ve been raised by a bunch of top-notch judges (and was given baby-sized gavels in my cradle), but they’d be wrong. I was the first in my family to go into the law.

But even so, I met lots of people in the legal profession through family, friends and the wider community. They were generous with their time, and let me ask them all kinds of questions about wigs and writs and equitable trusts. It changed my life. And it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot.

Mostly that’s because I’ve enjoyed a load of school visits recently, chewing some fascinating fat with amazing students and teachers. It’s been an incredible privilege over the years to speak to so many young people at every kind of school, even if the pupils remind me how out-of-date and uncool I am (I’ve always partied like it’s 1899 and it took me several goes before I got the meaning of “peng”).

Last week, for example, I was fortunate enough to be at Heathcote School in Chingford as part of National Career Week.

While there I did some mock cases with Years 7 and 8 — they left me genuinely speechless at how incisive and thoughtful they were. It was like sitting with a load of tiny, brilliant KCs whose voices hadn’t broken yet. With the older students we had an equally fascinating discussion about intellectual property, focusing especially on what they’re uploading to TikTok. Again, their handling of the issues was first-class. Any one of them would make a spectacular solicitor or barrister.

But when I asked around after the session to see if anyone had relations who were lawyers the answer was — not many. In fact, most didn’t have any contacts in the law at all.

It’s a crying shame because it’s almost always that personal contact that’s crucial in helping young people find (and get) the right career.

I know it was for me. It’s the key to social mobility and ensuring that this wealth of talent isn’t lost. What’s fundamental today is not jumping through hoops, it’s the work experience you can secure and the connections you can make. As a consequence, lots of places in media and law (the areas I know best) are filled with examples of old-fashioned nepotism: shiny-haired sorts who’ve benefited from every name in their parents’ bulging address books.

People giving up their time can be the answer to that inequality. It’s essential, because it spreads the privilege of “contacts” from those with well-connected families to the majority who don’t.

Letting kids meet professionals face-to-face shows them that the folks doing these jobs aren’t some differently evolved kind of superhumans (the yet to be discovered homo barristerius) — they’re just like everyone else.

For myself, I’d recommend it in half a heartbeat to anyone who’s got some time to share their insights.

Not only is it a joy (and an education) but, best of all, you could just end up changing lives.

Israel-Palestine story is a hit with younger viewers

Last week, the first part of my new show, The Holy Land And Us — Our Untold Stories, went out.

Making it has been a three-year passion project for me — I co-present with Sarah Agha and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. I believe it addresses the complex and difficult subject of Israel/Palestine with real sensitivity … most importantly of all, it lets everyone hear both sides.

It’s broadcast fairly late in the evening and it falls squarely into the “serious documentary” bracket so it wasn’t easy to guess how it would go down with audiences. It turns out it did especially well among 16- to 34-year-olds. For those that think they’re a checked out, iPhone-obsessed demographic, it’s an encouraging sign …

it shows that these stories are for everyone, no matter their age or background.