Mackie Academy win Bar Mock Trial Scottish heat

Two pupils from Mackie Academy in Stonehaven have won the 2019 Scottish heat of the Bar Mock Trial Competition.

The event took place at the High Court in Glasgow, with Lord Clark presiding, and the school will now compete in the UK final at the Old Bailey in the spring of 2020.

The mock trial competition is run by the Young Citizens charity as a way of gaining insight into the justice system, and is open to students aged 15 to 18 from non-fee paying schools. It is supported by the Faculty of Advocates, the Bar Council of England & Wales, the Bar Library of Northern Ireland, Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service, HM Courts & Tribunals Service, the Circuits and the Inns of Court.

Craig Findlater, advocate, the competition’s co-ordinator in Scotland, commented: “It is a real privilege to be involved in this competition. All of the schools that took part were impressive, and every pupil should be proud of their performances which were so obviously the result of allying hard work to natural talent. The future of the legal profession looks to be in very safe hands.

“Thanks are due to the Young Citizens charity for running the competition across the UK; the Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service for allowing the use of the High Court in Glasgow; the Faculty of Advocates for sponsoring the event; the Scottish Criminal Bar Association for supporting the event; and the many individuals who volunteered their time, in particular Lord Clark. Best of luck to Mackie Academy at the Old Bailey.”