The Bar National Mock Trial
Competition 2012.
NO PRIOR LEGAL
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED TO
TAKE PART.
About the competition
• The Bar National Mock Trial Competition
gives young people an exciting and innovative
insight into the workings of the legal system.
• It involves over 2,000 students, 300 barristers
and advocates and 90 judges from across
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• The Academy will enter a team of 15 students.
How it works
• Teams of students use carefully
constructed witness statements to prepare
the prosecution and defence of two
specially written criminal cases.
• Students take on the roles of barristers,
witnesses, court staff and jurors and
compete against other schools in a live
format, with one team prosecuting and the
other defending.
How it works
At regional heats teams take part in three
trials both prosecuting and defending one
case and prosecuting or defending the
other. The two teams with the highest
scores go on to a fourth trial to decide the
regional winning team. The regional winning
team then goes on to compete in the
national final.
Auditions
For those students who want the roles of
barristers and witnesses, you will be
required to audition for the part.
These will be judged by me and a member
of staff from Drama.
Why auditions?
Barristers will need to take the lead in the competition in front of a judge
in the Crown Court. Your aim will be to win the case. You will need to
be able to think on your feet and critically evaluate on the spot, being
fearless in your prosecution and defence.
Witnesses will be subject to cross-examination in which the barristers
will persecute you i.e. make you out to be a liar, trip you up on what you
are saying and basically completely discredit any evidence you give.
You will need nerves of steel!!
There are also roles as jurors and a court clerk. You will not be
required to audition for these.
Roles will be allocated in July with a one hour weekly commitment until
the end of term.
Timescales
The enrichment will primarily run from September
2012 to November 2012 and hopefully you will be
working alongside a barrister who will coach you in
advocacy.
If you are successful and win the regional heat,
this will then be extended to March 2013 where 16
regional schools will compete in the national final
that takes place at the Royal Courts of Justice in
London.
Legal Reporting Competitions
Press Officer competition
Each team can nominate a Press Officer to be
responsible for developing a media strategy for
local coverage of the team's entry. Details of how
to enter the Press Officer competition is sent to
participating schools in September.
Court Reporter competition
After watching one of the trials at a regional heat,
the Court Reporter will write a newspaper article
reporting on the case they have watched.
Why bother?
• You will gain an understanding of the legal and human rights
and responsibilities underpinning society, and how they relate
to you as citizens, including the role of the criminal and civil
justice systems;
• You will understand the work of courts in making and shaping
the law;
• This is an opportunity to develop research skills on topical
moral and social issues;
• You will get the opportunity to consider other people's
experiences and be able to explain and express, explain and
critically evaluate opinions that are not necessarily your own;
• You can negotiate, make decisions and take part responsibly
in Academy enrichments.
Why bother as a Macmillan
student
UCAS references and university/job applications or
those working towards an apprenticeship.
Build on a topic that you may be interested in for
your EPQ.
Prove that you can successfully collaborate and
work as a team to reach desired outcomes with the
discipline required. Employers like this one!