On Saturday, 16 November, three dedicated Floreat Lower Sixth boys, Isaac Adeyemi-Abere, Kitan Balogun and Samuel McMurran had the honour of participating in the Sir Gavyn Arthur Mock Family Court Experience at Bedford Family Court.
The Mock Family Court Experience is part of the Family Court’s commemoration of Universal Children’s Day. The boys were given the chance to prepare a mock family case in advance of the event and advocate against each other in the courtrooms used by the Bedford Family Panel. Other activities on the day included a question and answer session with a panel of judges.
The experience was particularly useful for boys with a strong interest in law and advocacy or those curious about pursuing a career in law. Participation in such events is not only an impressive addition to a personal statement or CV but also provides opportunities to practise public speaking and the art of persuasion – all essential life skills.
Prior to the event, Isaac, Kitan and Samuel invested significant time in preparing their position statements for three different cases, with invaluable assistance from Mrs Rachel Wainwright.
During the event, the boys had the unique opportunity to sit on the bench alongside the judge or magistrate, contributing to the delivery of judgements on orders when the court retired. This experience provided them with an incredibly valuable insight into both sides of a family court case and they also had the chance to engage in discussions with judges, magistrates, and the Lord-lieutenant, enriching their understanding of the legal system and providing a practical perspective on family law.
