Bar Mock Trial Competition National Final Edinburgh Court of Session 23rd March 2019
Bar Mock Trial Competition
National FinalEdinburgh Court of Session
23rd March 2019
I am delighted to welcome you to the National Final of the Bar Mock Trial Competition in Edinburgh. The competition has been running for 27 years, helping to educate young people about their legal rights and responsibilities, the criminal justice system, and the legal process and profession generally. At the same time, it helps improve their public speaking, analytical and team-working skills.
One of the most satisfying aspects of my job is to meet people who tell me that they decided to pursue a career in the legal justice system because of their experience in the Mock Trial Competition when they were at school. Today, at the final, we will see in action the most successful teams from the various regional heats during 2018/19.
Thank youI would like to thank of those who help to make the Bar Mock Trial Competition such a success. That includes all of our sponsors, and especially the Bar Council of England and Wales, and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service for allowing us the use of court facilities.
Last but by no means least, a very big thank you to the hundreds of volunteers involved. Over 160 barristers/advocates and 110 judges volunteer in the competition every year. Without their help, we would not be able to introduce young people to the criminal justice system in such an engaging and inspiring way. We are incredibly grateful for the time and effort that barristers/advocates and judges up and down the country commit to ensuring that young
people’s first contact with the legal profession and those involved with the administration of justice is a positive one. If you would like to volunteer see details on the back page.
I hope that all finalist schools have enjoyed preparing for the competition. Congratulations on getting this far in the competition and I wish you all the very best of luck.
I hope you enjoy the day.
Tom FranklinCEO, Young Citizens
Bar Mock Trial Competition
Welcome to the National Final of the Bar Mock Trial Competition 2018/19
Timetable9.00 Schools and guests arrive 9.30 Welcome speeches 9.45 Round 1: All teams present R v Forrester 10.55 Round 1 ends 11.15 Round 2: All teams present R v Hardy 12.25 Round 2 ends. Lunch break13.15 Round 3: All teams present R v Forrester 14.25 Round 3 ends. Prize giving and Finalists announced 14.45 Grand Final: Finalists present R v Hardy 16.00 Closing speeches and prize-giving ceremony
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Finalist Schools In this competition cycle, 197 schools competed in 24 regional heats held across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland during November and December 2018. Each team from the finalist schools performed to a very high standard in order to make it to the national final.
Belfast: Banbridge Academy Belfast: Glenlola Collegiate SchoolBirmingham:King Edward VI School Bristol:St. Laurence School Cardiff:Ysgol Bro Dinefwr Chester: Wirral Grammar School for GirlsDerry: St. Mary’s Grammar SchoolGlasgow: Boclair Academy Guildford: Bishop Luffa School
Bar Mock Trial Competition
Inner London: Watford Grammar School for Girls Ipswich: Saffron Walden County High School Leeds: Ripon Grammar SchoolMaidstone: Queen Elizabeth’s SchoolManchester: Wilmslow High School Newcastle: Ponteland Community High SchoolNorwich: The Sixth Form College Colchester Nottingham: Kesteven & Grantham Girls’ School Oxford: Royal Latin School
Plymouth: Truro and Penwith CollegePreston: Runshaw College Reading: Luton Sixth Form College Snaresbrook: Presdales School Southampton: Plymouth High School for Girls Stafford: King Edward VI Handsworth School
Bar Mock Trial Competition
Please note that the first school mentioned will be the prosecuting school and the second school will be the defending school. (Eg. In “School A v School B” A will act as prosecution and B will act as defence.)
Draw
Round 1(R v Forrester)
Round 2(R v Hardy)
Round 3(R v Forrester)
Bishop Luffa School v
Plymouth High School for Girls
King Edward VI Handsworth Schoolv
Ysgol Bro Dinefwr
The Sixth Form College Colchester v
Banbridge Academy
Ripon Grammar School v
Royal Latin School
Wilmslow High School v
Truro and Penwith College
The Sixth Form College Colchester v
Royal Latin School
King Edward VI School v
Wilmslow High School
Plymouth High School for Girls v
King Edward VI Handsworth School
Banbridge Academy v
Ripon Grammar School
Saffron Walden County High School v
Truro and Penwith College
Ysgol Bro Dinefwr v
Bishop Luffa School
Saffron Walden County High School v
Wilmslow High School
Plymouth High School for Girls v
Ysgol Bro Dinefwr
Ripon Grammar School v
The Sixth Form College Colchester
Truro and Penwith Collegev
King Edward VI School
King Edward VI Handsworth Schoolv
Bishop Luffa School
Royal Latin School v
Banbridge Academy
Runshaw College v
Boclair Academy
Ponteland Community High School v
Presdales School
Glenlola Collegiate School v
Boclair Academy SUBSTITUTE TEAM
Queen Elizabeth’s School v
Kesteven & Grantham Girls’ School
Luton Sixth Form College v
St. Mary’s Grammar School
Wirral Grammar School for Girls v
Watford Grammar School for Girls
Luton Sixth Form College v
Presdales School
Glenlola Collegiate School v
Wirral Grammar School for Girls
Kesteven & Grantham Girls’ School v
Runshaw College
St. Mary’s Grammar School v
Ponteland Community High School
Banbridge Academy SUBSTITUTE TEAM
vWatford Grammar School for Girls
Boclair Academy v
Queen Elizabeth’s School
Plymouth High School for Girls SUBSTITUTE TEAM
vWirral Grammar School for Girls
Kesteven & Grantham Girls’ School v
Boclair Academy
Ponteland Community High School v
Luton Sixth Form College
Watford Grammar School for Girls v
Glenlola Collegiate School
Runshaw College v
Queen Elizabeth’s School
Presdales School v
St. Mary’s Grammar School
Court
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
King Edward VI School v
Saffron Walden County High School
King Edward VI School
Saffron Walden County High School
Wilmslow High School
Truro and Penwith College
Plymouth High School for Girls
King Edward VI Handsworth School
Ysgol Bro Dinefwr
Bishop Luffa School
Ripon Grammar School
The Sixth Form College Colchester
Royal Latin School
Banbridge Academy
Glenlola Collegiate School
Substitute Team
Wirral Grammar School for Girls
Watford Grammar School for Girls
Kesteven & Grantham Girls’ School
Runshaw College
Boclair Academy
Queen Elizabeth’s School
Ponteland Community High School
Luton Sixth Form College
Presdales School
St. Mary’s Grammar School
C
C
D
D
E
E
F
F
A
A
B
B
I
I
J
J
K
K
L
L
G
G
H
H
E
F
E
F
A
B
A
B
C
D
C
D
K
L
K
L
G
H
G
H
I
J
I
J
A
B
B
A
C
D
D
C
E
F
F
E
G
H
H
G
I
J
J
I
K
L
L
K
Jury for Round 1go to court…
Jury for Round 2go to court…
Jury for Round 3go to court…School
Please can the members of the jury from each team go to the courts indicated below at the start of each round.
Jury rota
Bar Mock Trial Competition
The Court Reporter and Court Artist Competitions The Court Reporter and Court Artist Competitions run alongside the main mock trial competition. They provide a unique opportunity for students to learn about the work of other professionals working in court reporters and court artists.
Court Reporter CompetitionThe Court Reporter Competition was judged this year by Joshua Rozenberg QC, one of the UK’s top legal commentators and
journalists who has previously written for the BBC and the Guardian, and
currently writes for the Law Society Gazette and
Legal Cheek.
The Court Reporter winner is: Robyn Gallard, Calday Grange Grammar School
Below is an extract from Robyn’s report:
“Moore described to the jury how immediately after the assault she had chased the attacker down the street towards the Mayberry town centre. Whilst she had been unable to see the face of the assailant, the clothes they had been wearing, blue jeans and brown jacket, were an ‘exact match’ for Forrester’s attire earlier that evening”.
Court Artist CompetitionThe winner was selected by professional court artist Julia Quenzler, who regularly appears on BBC News.
The Court Artist winner is: Jarlath Swail, St. Patrick’s Academy
More from Young CitizensMagistrates’ Court Mock TrialsIf you have students keen to be involved who aren’t old enough yet, we have a sister competition for 12-14 year olds. It follows a very similar format, but in magistrates’ courts across the UK. An extensive range of legal professionals - including volunteer magistrates, legal advisers and local solicitors support the competition.
Applications open in September 2019.
Student WorkshopsNot all young people are ready to apply themselves in a courtroom environment, but they may be interested in learning more about the legal profession or wish to benefit from an advocacy masterclass from a legal volunteer. Build your students’ confidence by attending one of our interactive workshops on the law. Check on our website for any upcoming workshops.
SmartLaw resourcesWe have been promoting young people’s legal education and the rule of law since our charity first formed. A SmartLaw school subscription provides over 25 units of high-quality teaching and learning resources to help educate young people about their rights and responsibilities.
To find out how to get involved in more of the Young Citizens project or to browse our resources visit us at www.youngcitizens.org
Introducing our judgesJonathan Austin studied French and other languages at University before pursuing a law degree. He taught English in Brussels and has interned for a member of Congress in Washington D.C. He currently works as a criminal barrister in Cardiff and Chester and a part-time judge dealing with Immigration and Asylum cases in Manchester. He lives in Cheshire and has three daughters, four ducks and chickens. He supports Leeds United FC.
The Hon. Lady Alisa Carmichael was standing junior counsel to the Home Office in Scotland from 2000 to 2008. She worked with cases relating to immigration and asylum. She specialises in public and administrative law and took silk in 2008. From 2011 to 2014, Carmichael was a tutor in human rights at Edinburgh University. In 2016, Lady Carmichael was appointed to the College of Justice.
Michael Duck QC is the leader of the Midland Circuit and is a member of the International Bar Association. He was shortlisted in Legal 500’s Regional Silk of the Year in 2015 and the Birmingham Law Society’s “Barrister of the Year” in 2016. Michael has worked on high profile, multiple defendant cases in the field of fraud and complex crime over the years.
Mark Fenhalls QC regularly appears in the most serious and complex of criminal cases, ranging from large scale Fraud and Corruption cases to Murder. He is ranked as a leader of the Bar in both Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. Mark is Deputy Head of Chambers at 23 Essex Street. He took silk in 2014. He was Chair of the Criminal Bar Association (2015-16) and has recently
been elected Leader of the South Eastern Circuit (2019-2020). He is regularly called to comment on criminal and civil justice matters for national newspapers, television and radio.
Niall Hunt QC is a Faculty Member of the Advocacy Training Board of the Bar of Northern Ireland. He was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1987, the Bar of Ireland in 1997, and took silk in 2014. He has experience in a variety of practices including criminal, family, and commercial and engages in Tribunal work. For many years Niall has supported the Bar Mock Trial by mentoring colleges, judging the Bar Mock Trial competition in Northern Ireland, and judging the 2018 National Finals.
His Honour Judge Andrew Jefferies QC was called to the Bar in 1990 and took silk in 2009. In 2016 he was appointed as a Recorder of the Crown Court and in 2018 he was appointed to Circuit Bench in Lincoln House Chambers. He has almost 30 years of experience as a criminal barrister. He spent nine years as Queens Counsel where he worked on a variety of high profile cases. He has also taken private clients to the Magistrates, Crown Court, and Court of Appeal.
Herbert Kerrigan QC is an experienced counsel appearing at the Criminal Bar and also the English Bar. Kerrigan lecturers around the United Kingdom and the United States with a particular interest in forensics in criminal and civil litigation. He is Chair of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary Samaritan Society and a member of the Board of Citizen’s Advice Edinburgh. He has been a long-time supporter of Young Citizens’ Mock Trial Competitions.
Bar Mock Trial Competition
His Honour Judge Christopher Kinch QC has been the Resident Judge at the Crown Court at Woolwich since 2013. He served as a silk for 13 years prosecuting and defending in cases of murder, fraud, and other serious crimes. He has served as Head of Chambers at 23 Essex Street and as Chair of the Criminal Bar Association. He has been involved in the Bar Mock Trial Competition snice the early 1990s.
The Rt. Hon. Sir Brian Leveson has practised on the Northern Circuit across a variety of common law, crime, and commercial work. In 2006 he was appointed Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales and in 2011 the Prime Minister appointed him as a chairman investigating the relationship between the press and the public, police, and politicians. He was appointed President to the High Court Queen’s Bench Division in 2013. He is the Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University and has judged the National Mock Trial competition previously.
The Hon. Lady Rita Rae was admitted as a solicitor in 1974 and has since been a junior counsel at the Faculty of Advocates and appointed QC. She was a member of the Sentencing Commission for Scotland for three years and is a member of Glasgow University “Legal 40,” mentoring students. She served as a temporary sheriff for a number of years and a temporary judge at the Court of Session. In 2014 she was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Courts.
Her Honour Judge Amanda Rippon was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1993. For the following 23 years she practised at the
independent Bar, specialising exclusively in crime. She became Head of Chambers at New Park Court (Newcastle) in 2015, making her the first female head of Chambers in the city. In 2006 she began training advocacy to pupils and new practitioners, something she continues and enjoys still. She was appointed to the Circuit Bench in March 2016 and sits at Newcastle upon Tyne Crown Court.
The Hon. Lady Sarah Wolffe immigrated to the United Kingdom in 1987 from the United States. She became a solicitor in 1992 and a member of the Faculty of Advocates in 1994. For 12 years she was standing junior counsel to the Department of Trade and Industry. In 2008 she was appointed a Queen’s Counsel and became a member of the Outer House in March 2014. She is currently a judge of the Court of Session.
Our sponsorsThe competition is run in partnership with the Bar Council of England and Wales, the Bar Council of Northern Ireland and the Faculty of Advocates of Scotland. Together, these bodies represent members of the Bar across the UK. We are extremely grateful for the support we receive from barristers and advocates across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The competition is also supported by the four Inns of Court: Lincoln’s Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple and Gray’s Inn. The Inns are professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. They provide support for barristers and students through a range of educational activities, lunching and dining facilities, access to common rooms and various grants and scholarships. All barristers in England and Wales must belong to one of the Inns. We are also grateful for the support the Circuits.
HM Courts & Tribunal Service
We are grateful to Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) for providing court facilities for our regional heats and the national final of the competition. HMCTS is an executive agency of
the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Their remit is to deliver justice effectively and efficiently to the public. They are responsible for managing the Magistrates’ Courts, the Crown Court, County Courts, the High Court and the Court of Appeal in England and Wales.
The Law Society has supported the Citizenship Foundation since its inception. The Law Society represents solicitors in England and Wales. From negotiating with and lobbying the profession’s regulators, government and others, to offering training and advice, they exist to help, protect and promote solicitors across England and Wales.
Bar Mock Trial Competition
With thanks to…All those who make the competition possible through their generous support:
The Bar Council of England and Wales, The Bar Council of Northern Ireland, the Faculty of Advocates, the Circuits, the four Inns of Court and HM Courts & Tribunal Service.
All of the regional coordinators who volunteered to recruit barrister/advocate mentors and judges for the regional heats of the competition. As well as those who have volunteered to be barrister/advocate mentors and judges in this year’s competition.
Edinburgh Court of Session, Elaine Reid, Dawn Fleming, Michael Rafferty the other court staff, catering, cleaning and security staff today – in addition to all the court across the country who help make this UK-wide competition.
Special thanks must also go to our judges, guest speakers Richard Atkins QC, the Bar Council Chair and Malcolm Cree, the Bar Council CEO.
Most importantly, thank you to all the students, teachers, staff, and parents who have put a huge amount of time and effort into preparing for this year’s competition.
Get inspired. Get active. Get involved.
www.youngcitizens.org
About Young Citizens
The Mock Trials Competition is just one of many programmes which Young Citizens runs. All of them are aimed at helping young people become active, engaged and motivated citizens, who are able to contribute positively to their communities – whether those communities are local, national or global.
At Young Citizens, we believe that by helping young people play a full part in their communities, we can help strengthen democratic society. At a time when so many of our democratic institutions are under threat, our work is more important than ever.
Our work ranges from immersive learning projects such as the Mock Trials, through to programmes which empower children to take action on social issues they care about most. We also empower teachers and volunteering professionals with specialist training and resources for classroom delivery. All of our work has a single aim: to help young people be active citizens for life. Young Citizens is an education charity working in primary and secondary schools to help educate, inspire and motivate the active citizens of tomorrow. The need for our work has never been greater.
Join in and share your experiences on social media:@YoungCitizensUK #MockTrials #NationalFinal