Bar Mock Trial

The "Bar National Mock Trial Competition" which aims to give young people an insight to the workings of the legal system. Now in its 18th year, it involves over 2,000 students, 200 barristers/advocates and 90 judges from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Finalist 2010/2011

The National Final was held on 12th March 2011 at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast.

Finalist Winners of 2009/10

In this year the finals were held at Edinburgh Crown Court.

The National Champions were the Whitley Bay High School team, including barristers Joseph Taylder and Katy Ames, clerk of the court Robert Hollis and chief witnesses Laura Robson, Rihanna Ahmed, Jennifer Combe, James Glendinning, Caroline Armstrong and David Mecrow.

Finalist Winners of 2008/09

In this year the finals were held in the Old Bailey of London, two points separated the winner and runner up.

The National Champion was Ponteland High School (Winners of League Two) and runner up, The Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School (Winners of League Four and regional Oxford round)

Finalist 2007/2008

The finals were to be held at Liverpool Crown Court on 1 March 2008

Winners 2007/2008

This year's National Final was held at Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts, Liverpool on Saturday 1 March 2008. The sixteen Regional Heat winners from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland competed in three preliminary rounds in order to determine the top two finalist teams that would ProgresS onto the Grand Final.

Queen Elizabeth's Community College, Crediton (winners of the Plymouth Regional Heat) and Whitley Bay High School (winners of the Newcastle Regional Heat) were announced as The Two finalists.

In the Grand Final the teams presented the case of Jordan Potter before a panel of five judges and senior counsel from across the UK: HHJ Clifton, HHJ Harris QC, Brian Kennedy QC, Herbert Kerrigan QC and HHJ Roddy.

Whitley Bay High School were declared national champions. HHJ Clifton praised both teams on the high standard of their performances, noting the dramatic flair of the witnesses and the quality of all four barristers.

The new national champions received their trophy and prizes from the judges.

Winners 2006/2007

Lumen Christi College, winner of the Bar National Mock Trial Competition 2006/2007

A total of 158 schools have taken part in the Competition since the heats began in November last year with Saturday marking the culmination of months of hard work for the sixteen finalists. Judd School in Tonbridge and Ysgol Tre-Gib both won their Leagues but narrowly missed out getting to the final.

Suzanne Doogan from Lumen Christi played the role of a barrister. She said "The opportunity to work with real barristers and prepare a case has been a great experience. It gave us a real insight into how the justice system works”

Her teacher Dermot Hegarty added "I was impressed by how a number of shy students flourished and came out of their shells by taking part in the competition and the level of articulation and analytical skills was heartening to see. The actual day in court showed me how readily students rose to the challenge of such a pressurised setting. Their confidence shone through. The school was enlivened by our victory and the level of support has been fantastic."

External links

• CitizenShip Foundation: Bar Mock Trial Competition