To celebrate the children's effort in their Theatre of Law project, we visited the Royal Courts of Justice in London to perform our mock trials in a real court room. The pupils were shown around these active courts and were able to see the list of the different cases which were to be tried that day. Unfortunately, it is illegal to take photos inside the building but we did get a few outside!
This archaic building was built in the 1870s and was opened by Queen Victoria in 1882. Since then, thousands of cases have been heard here and countless lawyers and barristers have passed through the doors. Most of the cases at the Royal Courts of Justice are civil ones- which could involve a plaintiff suing a business or individual.
The children were blown away by the intricate architecture of the RCJ and the old court rooms which are still in use today. We were also lucky enough to be visited by Judge Hugh Howard- who is the regional Tribunal judge specialising in welfare benefits. He encouraged all the children to consider a career in law and informed us that shockingly only 28% of court judges are women. This figure rises to 45% for tribunal judges which is more representative of the demographic they serve.
Taking part in a mock trial in a real courtroom was a unique experience that I didn't think was possible. We learnt about mitigating and litigating circumstances and the roles of jurors, judges and counsel.
Tia, Larch
As a result of these trips and our Theatre of Law project, more than two thirds of our year group are now considering a career in law whereas before only 20% knew and understood what a lawyer does.
