MEDIA DIARY NOTE
2009 Mock Trial Grand Final
Loreto Kirribilli v Fort Street High School
Friday 27 November
Wesley Centre, 220 Pitt Street, Sydney
The trial starts at 9:00am and should finish about 12:30pm.
The Hon Justice Peter Hidden AM will judge the trial.
The Mock Trial Competition is conducted by the Law Society of NSW and is
a practical means of introducing students to the law and increasing their
understanding of the judicial system.
The Mock Trial Competition is open to students in years 10 and 11. Each
team consists of six
students who play the roles of barristers, lawyers and
witnesses. In most cases the Law Society assigns a Coach to each team, who
is a qualified barrister or solicitor. The Coach provides information about court
procedures and advocacy techniques.
The Law Society also provides 'the case' for the mock trials. The cases are
confined to simple criminal and civil matters heard in the Local or District
Court. A team may act as either the defence or prosecution during a trial, with
each team member taking on the role of a barrister, solicitor, court officer or
witness, pitting their skills against the opposing side -
a team from another
school.
Each trial is presided over by a Magistrate (a solicitor or barrister), who
awards marks to each team based on a range of criteria, such as opening
addresses, closing submissions and cross examinations. The team with the
highest mark wins the trial.
The competition also helps students to increase basic skills such as listening,
speaking, writing, reading and analysing. The goal is not to win for the sake of
winning, but to learn and understand the meaning of good citizenship through
participation in our system of law and justice.
Media will be permitted to take photographs and or film the Mock Trial.
Media contact: Sue Finn (NSW Law Society)
Tel: 02 9926 0288 or 0412 346 648
NEWS 
