New mock court room to be opened by top judge Lady Hale

The new facility, which has been named the Lady Hale Court, will provide students with a unique opportunity to experience a court atmosphere and develop their professional legal skills. Lady Brenda Hale was awarded an honorary degree from the University in 2019. 

Professor Engobo Emeseh, Head of the School of Law said: “Producing job-ready graduates equipped not only with knowledge of the law, but also practical legal skills, is an intrinsic part of legal education here at the School of Law and the Lady Brenda Hale Court will go some way in helping us achieve that.

“This facility will be available for students across the University and the wider community. We hope to see not only our law students benefiting, but students training to become social workers, psychologists, criminologists, health care professionals, forensic scientists and any other professionals who are often called upon to give evidence in court and tribunal proceedings. Our ambition is that this will be a facility the whole community can use.

“We are honoured to have Lady Hale joining us at the opening, she is a real inspiration to our students as one of the most successful female judges in the World.”

Lady Hale was the first woman to be appointed to the Law Commission, she was the first woman Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and the first ever woman president of the Supreme Court.

The opening ceremony will take place on 21 January 2020 and will include a tour of the new facility and an opportunity to hear from Lady Hale herself.

In 2018 the School of Law relocated to the main City Campus. The School of Law aims to develop graduates who are workplace ready, enthusiastic and engaged and to achieve this they have invested in a new mock court which will bring a number of benefits to the University and to the City including schools being invited to come and use the mock court for skills development and career experience days.

The School of Law is working with local secondary schools to run the pilot of an annual Bradford Schools Mock Trial Competition where staff and students work with pupils to argue for or against a particular scenario, which can then be acted out in the new facility. The Competition is aimed at helping pupils develop a range of useful skills for their future studies and careers. Winners of the pilot competition will be awarded their prize by Lady Hale during the Opening Ceremony.

To learn more on booking the new Lady Hale Court facility please visit our activities for schools, colleges and young people page or contact our Outreach Team.