Law School students trial their court skills

22nd November 2017

A city employment lawyer turned lecture room into court room to put Sheffield Hallam Law School students through their paces in a mock employment tribunal.

Toby Pochron, associate at Sheffield commercial law specialists Ironmonger Curtis, put the skills of the next generation of lawyers on trial. Students nominated judges to act alongside Toby, cross-examined witnesses and presented their legal arguments. Said Toby: -Enacting an employment tribunal gives students a deeper insight into the real-world application of the law. They see what they are studying being put into practice and it helps them understand how their growing knowledge will be used in the future. -I had a lot of help and guidance to get to where I am today and both I and Ironmonger Curtis want to assist the next generation of lawyers to stay engaged with their studies and progress their careers. Under his guidance, Law School students analysed documents for the mock employment tribunal as if it were a real case. -There were strengths and weaknesses for both the claimant and respondent, so it was a real test for the students as the decision could have gone either way, added Toby, who has been acting in tribunals for employers and employees since 2012 and has also worked on a number of successful cases at appeal. Commented aspiring lawyer Max Tomlin: -The tribunal allowed students to truly get involved in the intricacies of bringing and defending an employment case. Fellow student Aleida Da Conceicao Abambres added: -Toby has made me think about taking employment law on as a career. - Ironmonger Curtis offers to stage mock tribunals and employment law training sessions for businesses in the Sheffield City Region to show employers how the tribunal system operates and discuss ways businesses can avoid employment issues. Contact info@ironmongercurtis.com for more information. Picture caption: Pictured at the Mock Tribunal are Sheffield Hallam students (LtoR): Danielle Brownett, Aleida Da Conceicao Abambres, Max Tomlin, Sophie Hearne, Rhiannon Roberts and Sophia Pancisi. Ironmonger Curtis associate Toby Pochron is pictured fourth from left