Happy 10th Anniversary to MiniTrials

Happy 10th Anniversary to MiniTrials
www.minitrial.org.uk
Congratulations and many thanks to all those who have helped to make the MiniTrial intiative such a success over the past 10 years.  A brief review of our blog shows that, since starting in 2002, there have now been some forty two (42) "all day" MiniTrial events - each normally involving eight different schools running two different trials.  Those events have taken place in Sheriff Courts all round the country - in Kilmarnock, Edinburgh, Paisley, Ayr, Dundee, Glasgow, Airdrie, Alloa, Stirling and Falkirk.  There have also been numerous "in-school" events, including the very successful Primary School MiniTrials, in Edinburgh and elsewhere. 
On any view literally thousands of Scottish pupils have now taken part in a MiniTrial. 
There are also bespoke MiniTrial materials for various different parts of the country - all available for free download from the MiniTrial website.  The regions include East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Edinburgh (Primary), South Ayrshire, Glasgow, Stirling, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, Aberdeen, Highland, and Dumfries and Galloway.
Download MiniTrial materials from here
The blog list of law-related internet "Links" is a great educational resource (see right hand panel).
Well done everyone.  Looking forward to the next 10 years.

Edinburgh MiniTrials 2012

The 10th annual Edinburgh MiniTrials took place on 6 October 2012 in Edinburgh Sheriff Court.  The schools taking part were:

• Castlebrae High School
• Craigmount High School
• Forrester High School
• Portobello High School
• St Thomas of Aquin's
• Trinity Academy
• Wester Hailes Education Centre
• Queensferry High School

Download the Edinburgh MiniTrials 2012 starter pack from here
Thanks to The City of Edinburgh Council.

The Paisley Snail Conference - 25 & 26 May 2012

Who then in law is my neighbour? 

Donoghue v Stevenson: 80 years on.

An International Conference will be taking place on May 25 & 26, 2012, to mark the exact 80th anniversary of Lord Atkin’s judgment.  The University of the West of Scotland, Renfrewshire Law Centre, the Law Society of Scotland and the Faculty of Advocates, are hosting a Major International Conference in Paisley (where else) to examine, discuss and celebrate eighty years of the law of tort, negligence and delict.  What was the decision?  Is this most famous case (probably) of all time? Why was it so important? How has the law developed since then?  What does the future hold? And was it really a snail in the bottle?
For further details go to http://www.uws.ac.uk/thepaisleysnail/

South Ayrshire MiniTrials 2011

The 7th annual "South Ayrshire MiniTrials" took place on Saturday 19 November 2011 in Ayr Sheriff Court.    The schools taking part were:

• Ayr Academy
• Belmont Academy
• Carrick Academy
• Girvan Academy
• Kyle Academy
• Marr College
• Prestwick Academy
• Queen Margaret Academy

Well done everyone.
http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/
Download "South Ayrshire MiniTrials 2011" Starter Pack

Scottish Council of Law Reporting on YouTube

Well done to the Scottish Council of Law Reporting (SCLR)

for their YouTube videos featuring none other than

"The Paisley Snail".

Go to YouTube - SCLR videos

Go to the SCLR website

Try "The Paisley Snail MiniTrial"

East Renfrewshire MiniTrials 2011

East Renfrewshire MiniTrials 2011 are also being planned for 26 November 2011 in Paisley Sheriff Court.  Rumour has it that they will be re-enacting the case of "The Paisley Snail". 
Well done to Ronnie Bain and all those involved. 
Brilliant. 

Edinburgh MiniTrials 2011

The 9th Annual "Edinburgh MiniTrials" took place
on Saturday 8 October 2011 in Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
The schools taking part included:

• Boroughmuir High School
• Broughton High School
• Castlebrae High School
• Currie High School
• Leith Academy
• James Gillespie’s High School
• The Royal High School

Download "Edinburgh MiniTrials 2011" Starter Pack
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/

Renfrewshire MiniTrials 2011

The Renfrewshire MiniTrials 2011 took place
on Saturday 22 January 2011
in Paisley Sheriff Court.
Download "Renfrewshire MiniTrials 2011"
Photos - Renfrewshire MiniTrials 2011
www.renfrewshire.gov.uk

Victoria Primary School MiniTrial - Edinburgh 2011

As featured on BBC Radio 4's "Law in Action"
Go to the "Law in Action" webpage for 28 June 2011
"A very successful initiative" - Joshua Rozenberg

BBC News Scotland - online coverage by Lucy Ash

Well done Victoria Primary School - and all concerned!  Brilliant.
Special thanks to Joan Spencer of Trinity Academy who made the Primary School MiniTrials possible.

Download the "Edinburgh Primary School MiniTrial" starter pack
See FACe - The Newsletter for Families and Children in Edinburgh
More Primary School MiniTrial materials
Victoria Primary School Edinburgh
Trinity Academy Edinburgh

MiniTrial Facebook Page

Go to the MiniTrial Facebook Page
Including:
Photos - Trinity Academy, Edinburgh, 2002
Photos - East Ayrshire MiniTrials 2002
Photos - Tayside MiniTrials 2004

For more Scottish heraldry - visit: 
The Court of the Lord Lyon
And see right sidebar for:  "Azure, a bend engrailed Or between a fox's mask Proper in chief and a cartwheel Argent in base"

Dumfries and Galloway

New materials.  New location.
Download "Dumfries and Galloway MiniTrials 2011"
For further assistance contact
The Faculty of Advocates MiniTrial Co-ordinators

East Renfrewshire MiniTrials 2011

The East Renfrewshire MiniTrials took place
on Saturday 12 March 2011
in Paisley Sheriff Court.
Download "East Renfrewshire MiniTrials 2011"
http://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/
Photos - Paisley MiniTrials 2008

Glasgow MiniTrials 2011

The Glasgow MiniTrials took place
on Saturday 19 March 2011
in Glasgow Sheriff Court.
Sheriff Andrew Cubie, one of the main event organisers, said:
"We had five schools, who provided six teams; there were about 70 pupils, all of whom threw themselves with great enthusiasm into the event. We had excellent support from the clerks, the police, Reliance, the local bar and fiscals as well as the Faculty who provided our sheriffs. ...  I am still receiving feedback, universally positive and we have had a number of requests to make this a regular event."
Congratulations to the pupils - who were from Craigholme School, Hutchesons' Grammar School (two teams), The Glasgow Academy, St Aloysius' College and Jordanhill School.
See also the Jordanhill School Newsletter - "MiniTrial" Article
Download "Glasgow MiniTrials 2011" materials

South Ayrshire MiniTrials 2010

The 6th annual "South Ayrshire MiniTrials" took place on Saturday 13 November 2010 in Ayr Sheriff Court.  It was another very successful day and all the schools did exceptionally well.  Those participating were: Ayr Academy, Belmont Academy, Carrick Academy, Girvan Academy, Marr College, Prestwick Academy and Queen Margaret Academy.  Many thanks to all those who assisted.
Download "South Ayrshire MiniTrials 2010"
http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/
Girvan Academy online article
Photos - Ayr MiniTrials 2010
Photos - Ayr MiniTrials 2009
Photos - Ayr MiniTrials 2006
Photos - Ayr MiniTrials 2005

Edinburgh MiniTrials 2010

The 8th Annual "Edinburgh MiniTrials" took place on Saturday 9 October 2010 in Edinburgh Sheriff Court.  The consensus was that they were "fantastic"!  Congratulations and "well done" to all the schools and the many teachers who took part from:  Craigmount High School, Trinity Academy, St Thomas of Aquin's, Firhill High School, St Augustine's High School, Portobello High School, James Gillespie's High School and Forrester High School.  The event was organised and supported by Joan Spencer from Trinity Academy.  Particular thanks go to the Sheriff Clerk's Office in Edinburgh, together with Reliance, the Witness Service, and teams of lawyer volunteers from The Procurator Fiscal Service, The Edinburgh Bar Association, and The Faculty of Advocates, with of course bespoke MiniTrial materials and support from http://www.minitrial.org.uk/ . As always, all the supporters worked together efficiently and professionally to provide a realistic credible court experience for the schools.  Well done to all of them.  It was also great fun.  Dr John Campbell, Head Teacher, Craigmount High School, was kind enough to write thanking the court team for "an excellent, educational day.  The event has had a great motivating impact on the young people involved".

Cllr David Beckett also kindly joined the schools for part of their day.

Download "Edinburgh MiniTrials 2010"

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/

Photos - Edinburgh MiniTrials 2010

Photos - Edinburgh MiniTrials 2009

Photos - Edinburgh MiniTrials 2008

Small Claims - small civil cases in the Sheriff Court

For some helpful guidance from Scottish Courts about Small Claims (small civil actions) - which are dealt with in the Sheriff Court - see Small Claims Guidance Notes

MiniTrials

Please remember - if it is not from the MiniTrial website, then it is not a MiniTrial. 
If in doubt please contact:
http://www.minitrial.org.uk/

Forensic Science MiniTrial 2010

An exciting new version of the MiniTrial materials has been prepared - with a "Forensic Science Module".  It relates to a charge of assault to severe injury and it is now available for "download" free from http://www.minitrial.org.uk/. This is all thanks to Nichola Mortimer, a biology teacher, at St Margaret's School in Edinburgh who enlisted the help of several lawyers as well as forensic scientists from SPSA Forensic Services and from the University of Edinburgh. The pupils in S4 investigated a mock crime-scene which Nichola prepared as part of the school's contribution to National Science and Engineering Week in March. They then examined the items recovered in their lab (with guidance from Nichola and forensic scientists) and prepared an excellent Forensic Science Report which included detailed findings and conclusions relating to fingerprints, blood and DNA. The pupils then gave their evidence as "expert witnessses" as part of a MiniTrial which was run in school - with help from the Faculty of Advocates and others. The pupils played all the major roles in the trial (lawyers for the prosecution, lawyers for the defence, the accused, the complainer, witnesses, jurors, media representatives and court staff) - all with the assistance of real lawyers. S1 and S2 were in the public benches.  As part of their preparations the S4 pupils also visited Edinburgh Sheriff Court - including the cell area - thanks to David Shand, the Sheriff Clerk.  Sarah Wolffe QC acted as the presiding sheriff at the trial - which took place on 1 April 2010.  The Crown were assisted by Isabella Ennis and the defence by Kim Schofield.  Having regard to the whole evidence, including the forensic science material, the verdict of the jury was "Not proven" - by majority.  It was a close call.  Congratulations to all those who took part.  Well done.

Junior School MiniTrial 2009

The St Margaret's Junior School (J5) MiniTrial 2009 took place
in school, in Edinburgh, on 26 November 2009.
It was the case of HMA v Goldilocks and there were 3 main witnesses.
By majority the jury found the charge against Goldilocks "not proven".
Download "Goldilocks MiniTrial"

For further Primary School materials try

Download "District Court MiniTrial"
(No Jury required - Password "district")

South Ayrshire MiniTrials 2009

The South Ayrshire MiniTrials 2009 took place
on Saturday 24 October 2009
in Ayr Sheriff Court.
http://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk