Aspiring RGS lawyers through to prestigious courtroom final

ASPIRING young RGS lawyers are preparing for a courtroom challenge after winning through to the final of a prestigious mock bar trial competition.

The school’s lower sixth form law society members faced Hopwood Hall College and Bradford Grammar School in the first two rounds, conducted online.

Having triumphed in both cases, played out in front of a team of legal experts in the University of Bradford competition, the eleven students will now compete in a real court on May 13.

Chair of the school’s Law Society Syd Wild explained how students did all their own research for the first two cases, learning about the legal process and systems while discussing tactics.

In the first, students argued for the defence in a dispute over payment at a self-checkout. The second case involved arguing the case for the prosecution following an incident where someone was injured in a nightclub.

Preparations for the final, which will be held at Bradford Crown Court, include law presentations and lots of practice, aided by student mentors in upper sixth form, he said: “All of us greatly enjoy the subject of law and have gained lots of experience about what a court would feel like and how it would feel to take on a client and be responsible for representing them.”

The 17-year-old, who aims to study law at university and become a solicitor, said: “As a team, it’s about developing our advocacy abilities and helping each other with our insights at all the bar mock trials.”

Head of careers Bob Walker said students had to push themselves out of their comfort zones: “They have had to think on their feet under pressure and have really risen to the challenge. Whether they decide to go into law or not, this is something they can put on their personal statements and CVs which really makes them stand out.”

The mock trial competition for local schools, first launched in 2020, is an annual event run by the University of Bradford.

A spokesperson said: “A mock trial is a really good way to build students’ skills, not only for those who would like to study law, but for all students in terms of transferable skills, such as communication, advocacy, research, analytical thinking and team working.

“For those who are considering law, it gives them a taste of an aspect of what a career in law might involve.”

Students involved in the competition highlighted the depth of preparation and teamwork required to succeed. Competitors take on the roles of barristers and solicitors, with barristers delivering arguments and questioning witnesses, while solicitors support by taking notes and suggesting lines of questioning during trials.

Juliet Pearson, 17, from Ripon, who studies economics, geography and politics, acted as a barrister in the semi-final. She hopes to take a gap year before studying law and pursuing a career at the Bar. She said the experience had been challenging but rewarding, particularly learning how to construct arguments and question witnesses without having formally studied law. She added that understanding concepts such as the burden of proof had been key, with the prosecution required to prove a case beyond reasonable doubt, while the defence must create uncertainty.

Xiao-Xi Hill, 16, also from Ripon, studies English literature, religious studies and psychology. She said the competitions had boosted her confidence and made her consider studying law in the future, despite aspiring to become a teacher and author. She described the pressure of thinking on the spot in court, particularly when witnesses give unexpected answers, but said it was “exciting and satisfying” when a case goes in your favour. She also took on a solicitor role in one round, helping to identify weaknesses in the opposition’s case.

Other students emphasised the importance of teamwork and adaptability. Nicola Siu, 17, who studies business, psychology and maths and hopes to go into finance, said the experience had helped her develop cooperation and debating skills, while building confidence in structuring questions correctly.

Cho Ray, 17, originally from Hong Kong, studies maths, further maths, economics and politics and is considering a future in economics or investment banking. He said one of the main challenges had been balancing different ideas within the team and dealing with unexpected issues such as last-minute changes to attendance.

Amélie Hills, 17, from Roecliffe, who studies chemistry, politics and psychology, hopes to pursue a legal career. She said the competition had given her valuable insight into how court cases are conducted, while also highlighting the challenge of competing against other strong schools and analysing complex case material.

She added: “We couldn’t have achieved what we have without our fantastic student mentors Aria and Leora in upper sixth form and the guidance and support of the amazing Mr Walker."

Students also reflected on earlier competitions, including the Leeds Beckett Bar Mock Trial, where although the school did not progress overall, individual teams achieved success in their cases.

With the final still to come, and details of the case yet to be released, the team remains focused on preparation and building on the skills they have developed so far.