Saturday, December 31, 2016

New Year Honour for MiniTrials

Her Majesty the Queen has recognised the MiniTrial educational initiative by awarding an OBE to its founder Sandy Wylie (Lord Kinclaven) in the New Year Honours List.

"I am delighted," said Sandy.  "This is a great honour from Her Majesty which must be dedicated to the thousands of young people, teachers, lawyers and court staff who have worked together so enthusiastically and selflessly to make MiniTrials such a success in so many places over the past 15 years or so.  I am immensely proud of all of them.  I hope that this public recognition of MiniTrials encourages even more schools to take part.  It is a simple user-friendly way of finding out more about our Scottish legal system - and it is great fun too.  I would like to see every school given an opportunity to take part.  So spread the word.  The materials are freely available online and I am happy to help if I can."

"Thank you everyone - and best wishes for 2017."

Sunday, November 27, 2016

"Top Marks for MiniTrials" - Edinburgh 8 October 2016

"Learning about the law through MiniTrials has been given a "ten out of ten" rating
following the latest event at Edinburgh Sheriff Court." 




See The Faculty of Advocates website for details.  Click here for Faculty News.

This was the 14th annual Edinburgh MiniTrials event.  Many congratulations to Richard Hart of Trinity Academy for organising things and to all the schools, pupils and teachers involved from:
  • Royal High School
  • Craigmount High School
  • Wester Hailes EC
  • Balerno High School
  • St Thomas of Aquins RC HS
  • Portobello High School
  • Liberton High School, and
  • St Augustine's RC HS.
Many thanks, as always, to all the lawyers and court personnel who gave of their time and expertise so freely and enthusiastically.  A very successful day.  Well done everyone.

Saturday, November 26, 2016

You be the judge - sentencing exercises

Try these sentencing exercises from England and Wales - and generate some interesting discussions.
You be the judge - click here.
Many thanks to the Sentencing Council for England and Wales for excellent materials.
For resources for schools - click here.
Remember that the law in Scotland is different.
Can you find out what the main differences are?
Scottish Sentencing Council - click here.