Judgement day for mock trial finalists

15th May 2013

Court has been adjourned for two schools in the region as they prepare to battle it out to be crowned champions of this year's Inter-School Mock Trial Competition.

Sheffield's Notre Dame High School will take on students from The Priory Academy, Lincoln in the final of this year's courtroom showdown on 19th June at Sheffield Crown Court. Eight schools and colleges from across the region took part in this year's competition, organised by Sheffield Hallam University in association with Sheffield Law Society and law firm Bhayani Bracewell. They each had to impress the judging panel as they debated on issues around the right to privacy for public figures. The finalists will now prepare to sway a jury made up of academic staff from Sheffield Hallam, staff from the Sheffield Law Society and local legal practitioners in a simulated trial that will be overseen by a practicing judge. Now in its second year, the competition was set up to give young people the chance to gain the skills and confidence to debate, challenge and influence others and provides a creative insight into the law profession. Rachel White, pre-enrolment officer at Sheffield Hallam, said: "The competition helps the pupils in their own personal development and it's great to see young people debating and putting their persuasive and influencing skills into practice. "The heats have been very competitive and I expect both sides to put forward some really good arguments in the final mock-trial."