Young Lawyers Summer School - Detailed Outline (In-Person)

This page provides a detailed outline of the in-person Young Lawyers Summer School, showing how the course develops across three days – from understanding how the legal system works, to applying legal principles in complex scenarios, and finally to arguing a full case in a Mock Crown Court Trial.

The course is taught through a combination of discussion-based seminars, structured activities, and practical courtroom exercises. Students are encouraged to think critically, contribute ideas, and test their reasoning in a collaborative setting.

For further information about the academic level, teaching style, and who the course is best suited to, see the Young Lawyers Summer School FAQ.

Prefer to view and download the PDF version of this outline? You can do so here.

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Day One – Crime, Justice, and the Art of Persuasion
Day Two – Contracts, Rights, and the Law in Action
Day Three – The Courtroom Challenge

Across the three days, students explore core areas of law including criminal law, contract law, and human rights, while developing key skills such as argumentation, analysis, and advocacy. By the end of the course, they will have built and presented their own legal arguments and taken part in a full mock trial.

Please note that for some groups, sessions may run in a different order.

10.30 – 10.45 Welcome and Introduction

The course begins with an introduction to the structure of the legal system and the approach of the summer school. Students meet each other, begin to think about what law is and how it operates, and are introduced to the idea of “thinking like a lawyer”.

10.45 – 12.30 The Criminal Justice System – How Do Trials Work?

This session introduces the structure of criminal law and the process by which cases move through the courts. Students examine how a criminal case develops – from the commission of an offence through to trial and potential appeal – and consider the roles of the different participants in the system.

A central focus is on the principles that underpin criminal justice, particularly the burden and standard of proof, and the idea that the prosecution must prove its case “beyond reasonable doubt”.

Key questions include: What is the purpose of the criminal justice system?, Why must the prosecution prove its case rather than the defence proving innocence?, What does “beyond reasonable doubt” actually mean in practice? How do courts balance fairness to the defendant with the need to enforce the law?

12.30 – 1.30 Lunch

1.30 – 2.30 Murder, Manslaughter, and Defences – The Complexities of Crime

Students explore one of the most challenging areas of criminal law: the distinction between murder and manslaughter. They break down the legal elements of each offence and examine how intention, responsibility, and circumstance affect criminal liability.

The session then introduces key legal defences – such as self-defence, insanity, and loss of control – and considers how these can alter the outcome of a case. Students apply these ideas to realistic scenarios, testing how the law operates in practice.

Key questions include: What makes a killing murder rather than manslaughter? To what extent should intention determine criminal responsibility? When, if ever, should the law excuse or justify a killing? Does the law reach fair outcomes in difficult cases?

3.30 – 4.30 Advocacy Skills – How to Make Your Case in Court

This session shifts focus from legal principles to legal practice. Students are introduced to the core skills of advocacy – how lawyers construct arguments, question witnesses, and present cases in court.

Through structured exercises, students begin practising these skills themselves, preparing for the Mock Trial on Day Three.

Key questions: What makes an argument persuasive in a courtroom setting? How should a lawyer decide which points to emphasise? What is the role of questioning in shaping a case?

10.30 – 12.30 Making a Legal Contract – Deals, Disputes, and Negotiation

Students move from criminal law to civil law, focusing on contract law and the legal framework that governs agreements. They examine how contracts are formed, including the roles of offer and acceptance, consideration, and intention to create legal relations.

The session also explores what happens when agreements break down, using real-world examples of disputes and legal challenges. It concludes with a negotiation exercise in which students represent different parties and attempt to reach a workable agreement.

Key questions include: When does an agreement become legally binding? What makes a contract fair or unfair? How should the law deal with broken agreements? What strategies lead to successful negotiation?

12.30 – 1.30 Lunch

1.30 – 4.30 Human Rights Law – What Are Your Rights?

This session introduces the framework of human rights law in the UK and explores how rights are defined, protected, and enforced. Students consider the role of law in safeguarding freedoms such as expression, privacy, and equality.

The focus then shifts to situations in which rights come into conflict. Through discussion and debate, students take on the role of decision-makers, weighing competing interests and considering how difficult legal judgments should be made.

Key questions include: What are human rights, and where do they come from? Should some rights take priority over others When, if ever, should rights be limited? Are current human rights protections too strong, too weak, or about right?

10.30 – 12.30 Mock Trial Case Preparation – Building a Winning Argument

This session brings together everything students have learned so far. Working in teams as prosecution or defence barristers, they prepare their case for the Mock Trial.

Students develop structured arguments, plan how to question witnesses, and refine their opening and closing speeches. Tutors provide feedback throughout, helping students strengthen their reasoning and presentation.

Key questions include: How do you construct a clear and convincing legal argument? What makes evidence strong or weak How should a lawyer anticipate and respond to opposing arguments? What is the most effective way to present a case to a jury?

12.30 – 1.30 Lunch

1.30 – 4.30 Mock Crown Court Trial – Your Day in Court

The course concludes with a full Mock Crown Court Trial. Students take on the roles of barristers, witnesses, and jurors, applying both their legal knowledge and advocacy skills in a realistic courtroom setting.

They present arguments, examine witnesses, and respond to challenges in real time. The session concludes with feedback and reflection on both performance and outcome.

Key questions include: How do legal arguments play out under pressure? What persuades a jury in practice? How does the adversarial system shape the outcome of a case? Was justice done in this particular trial?

This outline provides a detailed view of the themes and topics explored during the in-person Young Lawyers Summer School. The programme is designed to introduce students to some of the central questions lawyers ask about crime, rights, responsibility, and justice, while also giving participants the opportunity to test those ideas through discussion, debate, and practical courtroom exercises.

If you would like to learn more about how the course works in practice – including the academic level, teaching style, and who the course is best suited to – please see the Young Lawyers Summer School FAQ.

You can also return to the main in-person Young Lawyers Summer School page for full details about the course and how to apply.