Overview
The Mock Trial Competitions are our longest-running active citizenship experiences. Since 1991, we have provided unparalleled exposure to the judicial system, its venues and access to senior legal professionals.
Some of you may have already brought a team to one of our Mock Trial Competitions and know how transformative the experience can be for young people. Some of you may have a legal background and are looking for a way to engage young people in the law. Some of you may have no legal knowledge at all but are curious about the law and want to bring it to your classroom. Whatever brings you here, we hope this free classroom pack acts as a springboard for criminal legal education throughout classrooms (virtual or otherwise) across the country.
What’s in the pack?
The pack moves through three ‘phases’:
1. Session One: Courts, Roles and Procedure – Introduces young people to the differences between the Crown Court and the magistrates’ court, the roles of legal bodies and professionals within a courtroom.
2. Session Two: The Case – Students have a go at analysing a case, resources including full witness statements and annotations to support their learning. All students will take on the role of either the prosecution or defence.
3. Session Three: The Mock Trial – The last session culminates in students rehearsing and conducting a mock trial in your classroom.
The classroom pack is designed to be flexible and adaptable. Some activities can be done independently and others are teacher-led. This pack is intended for your whole class. The pack can be used for students in KS3 upwards.
Suggested next steps:
- View the full competition timeline to see when to apply.
- Read the Rules to see what is involved in the competition.
- Explore our FAQ pages to find out more.
More Lessons resources
Rights and Responsibilities
In this lesson pupils will develop an understanding of the terms ‘rights’ and ‘responsibilities’ and how they balance one another. They will then discuss and prepare a class charter that…
Plastic Pollution (KS1)
During this lesson children explore the environmental effects of plastic pollution by carrying out a number of experiments. They then go on to consider how they can take action against…
World Female Ranger Day (KS1)
During this lesson pupils will learn about World Female Ranger Day. Pupils will explore where the continent of Africa is and learn about its unique wildlife, and why it needs…
More Politics and Democracy resources
An Introduction to Human Rights
In this lesson students will explore our rights and responsibilities and how they are protected in law. They are...
You Decide! (KS4)
This resource will allow students to critically consider what reasons and ways the government can take to support different...
Voting and the General Election
This resource pack is the second of a four-part set which has been designed to introduce students to the...
More Understanding Rules & The Law resources
Conflicting Rights
In this lesson pupils will revisit their knowledge of human rights to consider situations in which people’s rights may appear in conflict with one another. Pupils will debate how they…
Being An Online Citizen
During this lesson pupils consider their rights and responsibilities as digital citizens, focusing on how the online world can be used as a force for good. Pupils consider what skills,…
Law Makers (SmartLaw Subscription)
In this lesson students examine what the rule of law is and why we need it. They consider how and why laws are made in the UK and what the…
More KS3 (ages 11-14) resources
How Does the Budget Impact Me and Others?
The resource consists of two activities. The first is a notation task based on the information provided about the...
Police Powers (SmartLaw Subscription)
This lesson examines the powers that the police have to stop and search, arrest and detain individuals. Students also have the opportunity to create their own ideal police force considering…
What is Debt?
Students will explore issues around money, personal and sovereign debt and consider the impact government borrowing has on future...
More KS4 (ages 14-16) resources
Controversial issues: guidance for schools
Children are alert to information and images they see in the media. These may graphically influence their view of the world, and not always positively. Graphic images on TV and…
What is Democracy?
This resource pack is the first of a four-part set which has been designed to introduce students to the...
Housing Law (SmartLaw Subscription)
In this lesson students explore a range of different housing situations someone can find themselves in. They examine some of the common legal issues concerning housing including common landlord and…
More KS5 (ages 16-18) resources
Sentencing Myths (SmartLaw Subscription)
This short activity challenges young people’s perceptions of current sentencing guidelines. It can be run as a standalone activity or as an extension activity as part of a mock trial…
Who’s Really Paying for COVID?
Young people are, and will continue to be, some of the most impacted by COVID. However their voices have...
Ethics, Innovation and the Law
Aimed at KS4 and Post-16, your students will: Explore the way technology is developing and the impacts this has...