Our Legal Studies students recently participated in their first round of the 2025 competition, taking on the role of the defence in a criminal case. While they did not secure a win in the case itself or the overall Mock Trial, they demonstrated strong legal reasoning, effective teamwork and persuasive argumentation throughout the competition.
Beyond the competition, the program fosters key academic and professional skills, including listening, speaking, writing, reading and critical analysis. Participants step into the roles of legal professionals, adhering to court protocols and dedicating significant time to case preparation. Ultimately, the competition promotes a deeper understanding of law, justice and good citizenship.
Each trial is overseen by a Magistrate—an experienced solicitor—who evaluates teams on various criteria such as their Opening Address, Closing Submissions, recall of witness scripts, cross-examinations and courtroom etiquette. The team with the highest overall score is declared the winner of the trial.
Round 1 saw St Edward’s College and Central Coast Grammar compete in a criminal case. As the defence, our team was tasked with representing a 24-year-old man accused of using an SMS service to send threatening and harassing messages to his ex-girlfriend.
Our team defended our client with a well-structured case, presenting strong legal arguments, thorough cross-examinations and compelling evidence. Through careful analysis and persuasive advocacy, we challenged the prosecution’s claims and upheld our client’s presumption of innocence.
We were fortunate to receive guidance from solicitor Mr Nick Fagan from Tonkin Drysdale Partners, over two sessions. He offered invaluable advice on effective questioning techniques and courtroom strategy. This enabled the team to refine their approach to examinations and strengthen their case.
This round provided a valuable learning experience, allowing our students to develop their legal reasoning, teamwork and public speaking skills. As we prepare for the next stage of the competition, we look forward to refining our strategies and continuing to grow as aspiring legal professionals.
Congratulations to the entire Legal class who assisted in the preparations. A special thank you and congratulations to our legal team on the day for their outstanding participation and immersion in this program:
- 1st Barrister: Lachlan O’Brien
- 2nd Barrister: Dominic Dodd
- Solicitor: Harry Barnett
- 1st Witness: Cooper Harker
- 2nd Witness: Sam Duffy
- Court Officer: Jeremy Huybrechs-Chung
A special shoutout to Ms Katie Moon for her impressive, almost ninja-like skills in manoeuvring a bus that was completely boxed in. If there was an Olympic event for precision reversing, she would take home the gold! Also, a big thank you for her support throughout Round 1.
Well done to all involved—we look forward to the next Round ahead!
