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Posted on July 6th 2015
Royal Courts of Justice and Old Bailey trip
Year 12 Psychology and Sociology students saw justice in action on a trip to the Royal Courts of Justice and Old Bailey on Thursday 25 June.
Our tour guide was court reporter and crime journalist Tim Wood. His insider knowledge of how the courts work helped us get the most out of the day.
In the Royal Courts of Justice we sat in on an appeal involving a drug conviction and people trafficking and our eyes watered at the fees charged by the top barristers in international commercial law cases. We also learned that newly qualified barristers avoid looking too ‘fresh’ by getting dust on their new, clean wigs!
First-hand experience
We walked to the Old Bailey via Lincoln’s Inn Fields where the country’s top barristers have their offices. At the Old Bailey our guide gave us summary notes on all the cases sitting that day. In Court 5 where we watched a murder trial unfolding and got to see the interplay between Judge, jury, barristers, solicitors and defendants.
The trip provided first-hand experience of the Criminal Justice System which is the focus of study for both Psychology and Sociology A level students. In Forensic Psychology students consider how psychology is used both to catch offenders and to treat them. In Sociology students explore different theoretical perspectives on the causes of crime and deviance in society.
Our students were a real credit to us, asking lots of questions of our tour guide but keeping very still and quiet during the court sessions.
Laura Edwards
Head of Psychology
