HUNDREDS of schoolchildren will be dressed as judges, barristers and court officials when they get the opportunity to meet real-life judges and conduct mock trials.

It will be part of a special event at the Bradford Tribunal Hearing Centre in Thornbury.

The aim of the sessions is to learn about the justice system and the rule of law – and discover that anyone can set their sights on a legal career regardless of their background.

Judges and the National Justice Museum are joining forces to host a series of half-day events over seven days starting from Monday, June 26.

A total of 264 pupils, aged from 8 to 19, from local primary and secondary schools will be playing roles including the defendant, witness, prosecutor, judge and jury in mock proceedings, which are based on real cases of cyberbullying, robbery and knife crime.

Bradford-based Diversity and Community Relations Judge Laurence Saffer and Midlands-based District Tribunal Judge Mark Angus arranged the event with Gill Brailey and Kath Downs, of the National Justice Museum.

Judge Angus said: “It is vitally important that our communities know more about the judiciary and the functions of those parties who make up the justice system.

“The aim is to reach, support and encourage a much wider range of students from a younger age and more diverse backgrounds to understand that a career in law and even the judiciary is achievable for everyone.”

Kath Downs, the National Justice Museum’s learning manager in the North, said: “This is our first time delivering our sessions at a Tribunal Hearing Centre, although we are no strangers to Bradford as our first national workshops away from our base sites was at Bradford Combined Court Centre, thanks to the support and assistance of Bradford Judge Jonathan Rose.

"Judge Rose is a huge supporter of the work that we do and understands the importance of educating young people of the various roles that are available in the justice system and to succeed it is down to hard work rather than your background."

The sessions will include contributions from court and tribunal staff, judges from tribunals, the Family Court, Crown Court and medical and disability specialist tribunal members answering questions about their roles in the justice system.

Pupils taking part in the event will be from Ingrow Primary, St Anne’s Catholic Primary, Eastwood Community School, Ilkley Grammar, The Ruth Gorse Academy, Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy, Oastlers School and the Training and Skills Centre.