Volume 35 Issue 07 - 1 June 2023

Law Society Mock Trial Competition Round 2

In Term 2, the Mock Trial team from St Patrick's College participated in Round 2 of the Mock Trial Competition organized by the Law Society of NSW. They worked on a civil case and had meetings after school on Friday afternoons to discuss and prepare for the trial. They shared knowledge, exchanged opinions, and developed clear legal arguments for the case.

Round 2 Mock Trial team - celebrating the win.

We would like to express our gratitude to Anastasia, our legal coach, who helped the team enhance their understanding of the legal system and relevant case law. Her valuable insights greatly contributed to the civil case proceedings.

On May 17, 2023, our Mock Trial team went head-to-head against Redfield College in the second round of the competition. This was a crucial day for the team, as it marked the culmination of their hard work over the past few weeks.

During the trial, our team demonstrated integrity and professionalism. They handled a challenging case admirably and effectively conveyed their points.

As the defense in the civil case, our team had to prove that the defendant was not liable for negligence under the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), based on the balance of probabilities. Our school's Mock Trial team successfully persuaded the magistrate with their arguments and emerged as the winners of the 2nd Round.

The barristers, witnesses, court officers, and solicitor all put in diligent efforts during the examination-in-chief, cross-examination, opening and closing statements. Our barristers, Salome S and Ellie F, along with solicitor Karli G, skillfully presented and argued our case. Witnesses Jamie M and Dakota L performed exceptionally well under pressure, providing crucial evidence to support our arguments. Samantha S, our Court Officer, ensured the smooth running of the process and upheld all formalities.

We are delighted to share that the St Patrick's College team not only won the case but also emerged as the overall winners of the Mock Trial for Round 2. This victory has brought us great joy and provided us with valuable learning experiences. The magistrate commended the team for their preparation, professionalism, and impressive performance.

Currently, the Mock Trial Team is preparing for Round 3 of the competition, where they will be facing St Gregory's College.

Cassandra Conti - HSIE Teacher