MAGISTRATES FOR THE DAY: APPLIED LAW STUDENTS DELIVER JUDGEMENTS!
28.11.2023Applied Law students have recently taken part in a fascinating workshop with the West Yorkshire Division of Magistrates Association which saw them work as Magistrates for the day!
In Applied Law, students taking the qualification develop their understanding of this academic subject, discovering more about the legal system, investigating real-life cases, and applying the knowledge learnt in the classroom in a variety of hands-on tasks. Recently, we welcomed three members of the West Yorkshire Division of the Magistrates Association- Sarah Butters JP, David Morgan JP and Ben Paolozzi JP – to share more about their roles and what a day in the life of a Magistrate looks like. A Magistrate, also known as a Justice of the Peace (JP), is a Judicial Officer of the lower court, appointed to ‘keep the peace’ and provide an invaluable service to the Criminal Justice System, dealing with criminal and civil proceedings, or the Family Court, or both.
This hands-on and interactive session, with a focus on driving offences, looked at how their roles make a difference to their local communities and what punishments were most appropriate for the differing offences they are presented with on a day to day basis. During the workshop, the group were tasked with becoming Magistrates for the day, hearing a range of cases, and making considered decisions to ensure they were handing out appropriate ‘sentences’. After the workshop, students took part in a Q&A to discover more about this voluntary role and the wider Criminal Justice System, and hear more about the journeys Sarah, David and Ben have taken to become Magistrates.
Zoe Brook, Teacher of Law, comments “This informative session has really opened our students eyes to the commitment and passion needed to take on the voluntary role of Magistrate. Magistrates up and down the country make an invaluable contribution to our communities and wider society by dealing with those who have committed offences. This is a role that requires great empathy, consideration and commitment, values that we instil in each and every one of our students at HNC. I hope that this has inspired some of our students to consider volunteering their time and applying for such roles after their time at HNC”.
You can find out more about the enriching and enlightening experience on offer here at HNC at our open event on Thursday 30 November. Click here to find more.
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