Budding young legal minds were put to the test as they stepped into the courtroom for this year’s Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial Competition, held at Oxford Crown Court.
Seven students from Aureus School in Didcot competed against teams from eight other schools, taking on a variety of roles to simulate real court proceedings. Participants acted as lawyers, witnesses, legal advisers, magistrates, defendants and court ushers, offering a hands-on introduction to the justice system.
“The students were given the opportunity to conduct a trial within the Crown Court,” explained Nikki Nicholls, Head of History and Ethics at Aureus, part of the GLF Schools.
“Teams compete against each other, with one school acting as the prosecution and the other as the defence. Students were given a variety of roles, such as witnesses, lawyers, legal advisors, ushers, defendants, and the magistrates themselves. The students were given the case in advance, and prepared really hard for their roles.”
The competition, organised by Young Citizens, is open to students aged 12 to 14 from non-fee paying schools across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It aims to provide young people with a practical understanding of how the legal justice system operates, while building confidence and key life skills.
This year’s event took place on Saturday 14 March and marked Aureus School’s second time participating. The team’s preparation paid off, with Year 8 student Nathanial Cole receiving the Highly Commended Legal Advisor award.
Reflecting on the experience, Mrs Nicholls highlighted the broader educational value of the competition.
“This was an invaluable opportunity for students to develop their public speaking and research skills, to build their confidence, and to learn about how the justice system works in the UK,” she said.
“We are sure it will inspire some future lawyers. We were all blown away by the commitment of the volunteers to the young people to give them as authentic an experience as possible.”
The event continues to provide an engaging platform for students to explore legal careers while gaining practical insight into courtroom processes, teamwork and advocacy.
