News from the Law Department

In May, the Year 12 Law class went to observe proceedings at the Portsmouth Magistrates Court. We listened to the District Judge and the Magistrates give their directions, sentences and judgments. There were a range of offences such as driving over the legal limit, assault, car theft and shop lifting. It was very interesting to see all the professionals in action and to witness how a court deals with the legal process. Our special thanks goes to the volunteer magistrates for coming in to speak to the class and then hosting us in court.

The Year 12 Law students also had an opportunity to go to Gray’s Inn London. Gray’s Inn is one of the Inns of Court – the historic societies that educate and train barristers in England and Wales. We had a tour of the Inn, lunch in the hall and then an afternoon of advocacy training led by our own Joe Foye, one of Bishop Luffa’s past students who is currently training for the Bar and is also an in-house academic researcher at the Inn. His academic achievements are phenomenal having studied at both Oxford and Cambridge. The training he did with the students will be used for next year’s Bar Mock Trial competition and beyond. Quite by chance, we saw and spoke to Gillian Keegan the former MP for Chichester.  It was a fantastic day out and cemented for many of the students their decision to begin their pathway towards a career at the Bar. Our huge thanks goes to Joe Foye for hosting us and giving so generously of his time and expertise for the day.

Fiona Langstone, Subject Lead for Law