UWL students spend a week seeing the law in action at ten magistrates’ courts
Intro
Twenty one students from UWL’s School of Law (SoL) recently spent a week attending ten different court sites in the southeast of England. This was part of a placement scheme with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), a government department within the Ministry of Justice that manages the courts and tribunals in England and Wales.
Article body
The students were able to watch a collection of remand cases, trials, domestic abuse cases and trial fixing hearings. They also viewed breach courts brought by the Probation Service or Electronic Monitoring Service and non-police courts including DVLA, Local Authority, RSPCA and TV licensing prosecutions.
The attendees also joined webinars on topics including a career as a legal adviser: district judges talking about their career pathways and the types of work they deal with and family legal advisers highlighting the work of the Family Proceedings Courts. Other sessions looked at the differences between youth and adult crime courts; and the types of cases dealt with in the Magistrates’ Courts.
The students also had the opportunity to shadow legal advisers, ask their advice and speak to judges, court staff, magistrates and prison staff.
The response from students was overwhelmingly positive:
Having the chance to witness a trial from the beginning to the end was valuable and hearing the experiences and the advice from the lawyers was amazing."
This experience has motivated me so much. It has inspired me to apply my legal knowledge to help people who are in need."
Students need exposure to legal practice and the work of the courts. This enables them to view law in action and determine their future career pathway and area of practice. It undoubtedly enhances their academic studies."
Head of SoL Philip Ells said.
This scheme gives UWL students an exceptional and unique opportunity to see the work of legal advisers, judges and administrative staff over a full week. I am delighted that we have been able to offer so many of them this vital experience.”