Opportunity to tutor school pupils as mock court competition gets underway

This year’s School Mock Court Project competition has started in some regions already but is still looking for tutors. The charity runs two separate competitions each year, one for primary schools and one for secondary schools.

The project sees thousands of pupils each year compete in a moot based around a fictitious problem question.

This year’s primary school children will be dealing with the consequences of an insurance claim following a raucous house party. The primary school competition is diverse, with prizes being awarded to the children for gown making, court artistry, witness performances, solicitor performances, to name but a few.

The primary school project sees trials take place across the country before volunteer sheriffs with its grand final taking place in the Central Hall in Edinburgh.

The grand finals have been very kindly presided over by many of our most eminent judges including Lord Hope and in recent years Lord Hodge.

This year, while the secondary school competition has a full complement of volunteers, the primary school competition still needs more tutors.

Tutors attend their local primary school to assist the class teacher with hour to hour and half hour long lessons intended to prepare the children to compete in the competition.

To sign up as a tutor follow the link www.mockcourt.org.uk/tutor to choose the school at which you wish to tutor.

Stephen Waclawski, a solicitor advocate at BTO Solicitors LLP, (pictured) said: “I started tutoring in the secondary school competition about four years ago and enjoyed it so much that I have been assisting with the mockcourt competitions ever since.

“I firmly believe that these competitions provide school pupils with a valuable insight into the Scottish civil court system. By helping children engage with the civil court system, volunteer tutors are assisting their local community to gain better access to justice.

“I would encourage anyone who’s interested in tutoring to sign up for this worthwhile experience.”