Mock Trial | A Question of Intent

A young woman is drawn into a sect. Under the influence of the sect, she separates herself from her mother and her friends. Desperate to “rescue” her daughter, as she sees it, her mother and her friend trick the daughter and keep her locked in the bedroom of a flat, where they begin the process of “deprogramming her”.

Days later two young men from the sect turn up at the flat. There is a discussion and events get out of hand.  At the end of these events, one of the young man is stabbed and has to be rushed to hospital to save his life.  The two women now stand charged with Attempted Murder and Wounding with Intent to Cause Grievous Bodily Harm.

On Saturday 27 July in Middle Temple Hall the trial of these two women will be heard. 

• The judge is a real judge. 
• The jury will be selected on the night from those in the audience who volunteer to be placed in the pool. 12 will be selected at random.
• The barristers are students who have recently finished the Bar Training Course. 
• The witnesses are all young actors training at the Artists’ Theatre School (Principal: Amanda Redman MBE).

The Prosecution will call the two young men from the sect and the daughter to give evidence.  The Defendants will give evidence.

The barristers and the actors have no script.  Anything can happen. The verdict will be up to the jury.

At the end, the actors will perform a “dramatic reconstruction” of the events, showing the audience what REALLY happened.

It is going to be a unique and highly entertaining events. For lawyers an opportunity to see a mock trial which is unscripted and where you actually get to know the answers at the end. For non-lawyers, a chance to see how a trial really works with all of the drama and suspense that entails.

Bernard Richmond KC, who is co-director of this project, is looking for up to 6 people to play the barristers.  If you are a student who is just completing or has just completed the BTC and have not yet commenced pupillage and you wish to be considered, please send him an email at bernardrichmond@lambbuilding.co.uk

Doors (and bar) open at 17:30. The event starts at 18:30 and should finish around 21:30. There will be 2 intervals.

The bar will remain open until 23:00 so that you can discuss the evening with each other and the performers, should you wish.

Students and transferring lawyers need to attend the whole event in order to claim a Qualifying Session, however there is no obligation to stay once the trial has concluded.

All members of the four Inns of Court, plus their guests, are welcome to book tickets via Middle Temple.

Members of the public can request to book via the Artists Theatre School on info@artiststheatreschool.com 

Click here to see details of the QS Requirements and how to be credited with the QS for this session

Learning Aims:

After this session, students should be able to:

• Recognise effective techniques for examination in chief and cross examination
• Identify strengths and weaknesses in opposing cases.

Links to the Professional Statement, wider workings of the Bar, administration of justice or a public interest matter

The QS will align with these elements of the Professional Statement:

• 1.15

Click here to view the BSB's Professional Statement

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