• Inter-School Mock Trial Competition 2012
• Prizes
• Entry
• Judging

Inter-School Mock Trial Competition 2012

In association with The Sheffield Law Society, sponsored by Bhayani Bracewell

Are your students passionate about law? Do they want to improve their debating and advocacy skills? Sheffield Hallam University, in partnership with the Sheffield Law Society, are inviting Year 12 students to take part in the upcoming Inter-School Mock Trial Competition 2012.

Why should my school or college enter?

This competition gives your students the opportunity to gain an insight into the skills they need to be a solicitor or barrister. They will also meet professionals working within the region.

If they enter the competition, they will have the chance to

• be mentored throughout their involvement by a current law student
• meet staff and students from the University and be involved in a preparation workshop run by the University
• take part in a heat against another team from a different school or college and be judged by academics from Sheffield Hallam University and staff from the Sheffield Law Society
• attend the final at the Sheffield Law Courts and meet practitioners, fellow competitors and see the final trial take place. All teams will receive a certificate for their involvement.

Finalists will be invited to Sheffield Hallam University to take part in an advocacy skills workshop which will be run by Sheffield Hallam academics and students, and practitioners from the local area.

Prizes

The winner and runner up will receive a trophy to display at their school or college and have their photograph taken with the judge, jury members and their student mentor.

All competitors will receive a certificate and if they attend the final, they will have their picture taken with the judge at the award ceremony, which will take place at the end of the final.

Entry

Eligibility

The competition is open to all schools and colleges in the local region*. Only one submission will be accepted for each school or college. Students should be in Year 12 but they do not have to be studying law.

* Priority for submission will be given to schools within a 50 mile radius of Sheffield, although we may consider entries from schools further afield.

Entry requirements and registration

Please submit your entry by 4pm on 24 February 2012 by filling in a registration form (PDF 112KB). Paper copies are available on request - please phone 0114 225 4979.

Places are limited as this is a pilot year for the competition, and will be given on a first come first served basis. All entrants who apply but do not get the opportunity to take part this year will be offered a roadshow which will include a mock trial scenario and a workshop run by students.

Getting started

Those chosen to take part will be offered a preparatory workshop before their heat. This will be held at the University. However we can come out to your school or college by prior arrangement.

The preparatory session will include learning the skills which are essential to presenting a debate. Participants will have the opportunity to meet and use the knowledge of their student mentor. The mentors will be able to answer questions about the language and general content for the heat, but will not be able to put together the debate content.

You will receive an information pack before to the workshop containing further details about the heat stage of the competition.

Judging

Heats

All competitors will be judged by a panel which will include law academics and students from Sheffield Hallam University, and representatives from the Sheffield Law Society and the corporate sponsors Bhayani Bracewell.

Final

The finalists will be judged by a jury, comprising academic staff from Sheffield Hallam University, staff from the Sheffield Law Society, legal practitioners from the local area and law students from Sheffield Hallam University. The trial will be overseen by a practising judge who will also be involved in the award ceremony.