Mock Field Report

Through our mock trial, we were able to establish new ideas and come up with questions to consider beyond the case. Besides that, I think we were capable of formulating arguments that applied to our sides. However, we were lacking in the ability to answer the questions from supreme court justices

This autumn, I represented the School at the Empire Mock Trials in New York, competing against teams from all over the world. This experience helped me to hone my public speaking skills and taught me how to see issues from different perspectives. Furthermore, it deepened my understanding of the workings of the American legal

A principle of common law, is that courts are open for public observation (Government of Canada, 2015, para. 1). Because of this principle, people are able to watch the majority of the cases at the Canadian courts, wether they be in youth court, traffic court, criminal court, etc.. There is a lot to learn in a classroom, but there are some things you can only learn from real life experiences, such as observing court in action.

The criminal trial process aims to provide justice for all those involved, while it succeeds in the majority of cases, it effectiveness is influenced and reduced by certain factors. These include the legal representation involved in a case and the availability of legal aid, the capacity of the jury assessing the trial, the credibility of scientific evidence and the impact of social media on the trial process. Due to such flaws the criminal trial process is not always an effective means of achieving justice.

As eMock Trials are presented to the jurors in a Summary format, they are best used after a Focus Group has been administered and the key issues in the case have been identified. eMock Trials deliver results similar to live Mock Trials; with the exception of evaluating the witnesses and the effectiveness of specific demonstrative aids. The development and implementation process is as follows:

In the article " Trial Lawyers Cater to Jurors' Demands for Visual Evidence" by Sylvia Hsiech, visual evidence can be used very effectively to reach jurors in courtrooms cases, but such evidence must adhere to the rules of evidence and should not be overdone. According to the author, There is a high demand for lawyers to use sound bite-like presentation and hiring visual artists to illustrate piles of documents and basically bringing them to life. For example hiring an visual artist you can keep the jurors entertained and present it visual so they can see and understand it. In the article, the author talks about Brain Carney because according to him every case can be visual. For instance whether you think your case can't be transfer into a

Pass 4- Describe the role of lay people in criminal cases and Distinction 1- Evaluate the effectiveness of lay people in the English courts

Furthermore, legal representation allows you navigate laws that you would not have been aware of absent representation. This legal representation is very helpful as many may not know the rule of the law or understand it. Therefore the legal representation can help the person to understand the case and it is more likely to result in a fair trial that will achieve the required outcome.

They read out that charges, swear in the witnesses, tags evidence, and the paperwork from the crown prosecutor and the defence counsel to the judge. The court recorder types what is going on the said in the trial, word for word. This is for the records and transcripts that may be useful and crucial for future uses. Observers of the public may watch a trail that is being held, but they have to be respectful and quiet during the trial. Courtroom organization is very important and has to be respected as the decisions made inside can deeply positivity or negativity affect someone’s life. It is important to the study of law because it is where citizens have the opportunity to protect their own rights and freedoms listed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Courtrooms are important to our unit about criminal law because criminal cases and trials are held inside. Hence, they are very important to the study of law because it enforces the laws in the Canadian law

My role in the mock trial was to be the Nurse which was one of the defense witnesses. I sat behind the defense attorneys and waited till my name was called to go up on the stand. Once I was up in the witness booth, I had to raise my right hand and say that I swear; to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help God, and I did. I was questioned by the defense side and then the prosecution side. The defense took it easy on me, but the prosecution took it hard and they were determined to win the case.

The proponents of cameras in the courtroom also believe that televised trials would educate the public on courtroom procedure and rules of the court. The media believes that as the viewers watch real trials on television, they would become more aware of the rules of the court and they would become more aware of the basic procedures courts have to follow. An example of how cameras in the courtroom would educate the public would be the all famous O.J. Simpson trial. The O.J. Simpson trial educated the public on rules of evidence with the “bloody glove” display, the cross-examination of key witnesses with the examination of Mark Furman, and what role the judge plays in the process. The media believes that if cameras where not allowed inside O.J. Simpson trial, then the public for the most part would still not understand the true workings of the court system. Kimberlianne Podlas note that televised trials will educate the public by giving them a reference for what the court system is, “its fairness, and who the arbiters of justice are” (Podlas, 2001). Podlas also explains that the O.J. Simpson trial lead more people to watch and gain a understanding and respect for the judicial system as well as gaining knowledge of the legal concepts and burdens of the system (Podlas, 2001).

I shadowed a barrister for two weeks after which I began to understand that skills such as organisation and teamwork are as important as the detailed knowledge of the law. In addition to this, my work in Jackson's Solicitors during June 2008, gave me insight into conveyancing and commercial law. By shadowing a District Judge at the Wigan County Courts, during summer 2008, I gained an insight into the Civil Court System, and found out more about sensitive and challenging cases, such as child abuse, domestic violence, immigration and asylum. I noted how decision-making judges have to separate their emotion from their conclusion, knowing their decisions will have a very significant impact on

“Witness for the Prosecution” superbly demonstrated a realist view of the operating procedures in a courtroom. The actors within the courtroom were easy to identify, and the steps transitioned smoothly from the arrest to the reading of the verdict. The murder trial of Leonard Vole provided realistic insight into how laws on the books are used in courtroom proceedings. With the inferior elements noted, the superior element of the court system in “Witness

For the mock trial I was assigned to be one of the prosecuting attorneys. After being presented with case materials which included facts of the case, statements from both prosecuting and defense witnesses, penal code for the alleged charges, and map of the crime scene, we as a group decided to create one Google Drive document. There we would upload our parts of the case and help other group members with their assignments.

It’s a myth that all lawyers spend time in a courtroom. Some lawyers focus on writing letters and memorandums, others research legal issues and drafting contracts, deeds, wills, corporate by-laws and legislations; and others counsel, mediate, negotiate, etc. If you would be interested in a career as a trial lawyer, you need the ability to think swiftly on your feet, speak extemporaneously and with authority in public, to be detail-oriented and to understand courtroom strategies.