Young people will be swapping their uniform for courtroom robes for a series of mock trials.

Young people from Eden Boys’ School will meet judges  in a Manchester courtroom where they will learn about the justice system.

The aim is to show the pupils that a legal career is possible for anyone, whatever their background.

District Tribunal Judge Mark Angus, who has arranged for the sessions to be help in Manchester, said: “I started my legal career aged 18 working as an administrative assistant at the Crown Prosecution Service.

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“The judiciary always felt totally inaccessible to me as someone who didn’t grow up around barristers and solicitors. 

“The students invited here will hopefully gain a better understanding of the role of the judiciary, learn about the justice system and be encouraged to see that anyone can pursue a career in law whatever their background.”

The series of half-day events at Manchester Civil Justice Centre, the pupils will play roles including defendant, witness, prosecutor, judge, and jury in the mock trials which will be based on real cases of knife crime, cyberbullying, and hate crime.

They will also take a trip back in time and learn about cases that involved suffragettes and Victorian children.

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The National Justice Museum usually runs the mock trials at its base in Nottingham, the Royal Courts of Justice in London, and across the North West.

However, these gained a new dimension after Midlands-based Judge Angus arranged for them to be held in a real courtroom in Manchester.

Gill Brailey, director of learning at the National Justice Museum, said: “You can’t match the impact of a young person being in a real court building, having to go through security, knowing there are real legal professionals working there, and dressing up in real wigs and gowns and using a real courtroom.

“These sessions teach young people about citizenship and the importance of the rule of law.

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“The judges are really inspirational.”

The judiciary is involved in other outreach work aimed at young people, including through its Schools Engagement Programme, in which judges and magistrates visit schools. Information is available at hwww.judiciary.uk/about-the-judiciary/diversity/schools-engagement/.

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