Year 10 Mock Trial Team Make History!
On the evening of Monday 21 October 2013 the Grand Final of the Law Society of Western Australia's Inter School Mock Trial Competition was held in the Supreme Court.
Mount Lawley's Year 10 team started this journey many months back in March 2013, meeting with their coaches for the first time and learning the basics of courtroom procedure.
The team were commended in these early rounds by judges for their notable teamwork skills, with all members performing various roles and contributing important points to their overall scores.
After making the final rounds, the students honed their skills in specific roles, Jadviga as First Barrister, Chaz as Second Barrister, Clara as Instructing Solicitor, James and Olivia as Witnesses, India as Judge's Associate and Megan as Court Orderly.
The finals trials represented a big step up in the standards of advocacy and the team were well tested by teams from Willeton SHS and Chisolm Catholic College.
They worked hard, spending countless hours after school and on weekends, meeting with their coaches to plan the case theory and to prepare for their roles.
The coaches, Rhiarne Bruce and Rosie Blakey-Scholes from law firm Thompson Downey Cooper gave the students invaluable support and encouragement, bringing out the best in each member. Their enthusiasm for the law and the easy rapport with the students ensured meetings were collaborative, productive and fun.
Meetings at the coaches' offices at Thompson Downey Cooper in the city, catered by Rosie and Rhiarne, proved very popular through the final rounds.
In the Grand Final the team had the role of Prosecution, against Hale School in a 'stalking' case based on Section 338E(1) of the Criminal Code (WA).
Hon Justice John McKechnie adjudicated, bringing a great deal of wisdom and wit to the proceedings.
Opening arguments were delivered, the barristers were tested individually on their knowledge of the case, witnesses for both teams were examined, then cross-examined, re-examined and eventually the Barristers delivered the Closing Addresses.
Justice McKechnie retired briefly to consider the verdict, then returned to announce that while Mount Lawley had not proved the more serious charge, they had been successful in proving, beyond reasonable doubt, the alternative charge under Section 338 (2).
However this was not the competition result, for this they had to wait.
After what seemed like an eternity the judge, organisers, teams, coaches, teachers, sponsors, parents and friends met in the foyer of the Supreme Court for the announcement of the winner.
Justice McKechnie was mercifully brief in his commendation of all the students involved in the trial, acknowledging the hard work and commitment of all involved to get the students so well prepared for the challenge.
With that, he declared that the winner of the trial was Mount Lawley Senior High School.
The team had made history, being the first entirely year 10 team to even make the finals, and now the ultimate goal, winning had been achieved.
Screams and jubilation echoed down the halls as they slowly realised the extent of their achievement.
A representative for Cheryll Gwillian, Director General, Department of the Attorney General presented trophies to the runners-up and then the winners, coaches and teachers.
A plaque and a cask prize was also presented to the winning Mount Lawley team.
In the post-announcement celebrations the students took time to congratulate Hale School team members on making a great competition on the night.
They thanked their coaches, teachers, parents and most importantly congratulated each other on their contribution to the success.
