Court Launches annual educational programmes
3 October 2024
Applications are open for the 2024/25 academic year to participate in one of the three annual programmes offered to students by the Supreme Court.
Ask a Justice, the mock hearing 'moot' programme, and debate days are offered annually to schools and universities to help engage students with the work of the Court and the Justices and inspire the advocates of the future.
Open to students in Years 11, 12 and 13 in England and Wales, Years 12-14 in Northern Ireland, and S5 and S6 in Scotland, debate days give student students with an interest in law the opportunity to be coached by qualified lawyers to deliver their arguments in a real Supreme Court courtroom.
This age group also have the opportunity to apply to take part in the Court's 'Ask a Justice' programme. Chosen schools meet with one of the 12 Supreme Court Justices and have the chance to ask them anything from the Justices' most notable cases, to studying law, and the working of the Court.
A student who spoke to President of the UK Supreme Court, Lord Reed, through an Ask a Justice session last year said: "Chatting with Lord Reed has completely altered my perceptions about law and the Court. Speaking with him demystified the court, gave me a full awareness of what Supreme Court Justices do, and their significant and key role in society and the Law."
For university students, the Supreme Court is offering them the chance to host their moot competition final in the prestigious Courtroom 1 of the Supreme Court alongside having it judged by a Supreme Court Justice.
There are 12 places, one for each UK Supreme Court justice, available for law schools and university law societies to apply for. The UK Supreme Court moot programme is aimed at law programmes working towards the final of an established and ongoing moot competition.
Participants in last year's mooting programme said the session "has been a massive aspiration raiser.. [we] all found it to be an incredibly enriching experience. The confidence gained was significant."
Applications to all education programmes are now open, the deadline for applications close throughout October.
Find out more about the education programmes and apply by following the links below:
Alongside their usual education programmes this year the Court also has held an art and an essay competition for students to celebrate their 15th Anniversary.
All education outreach programmes are available virtually. Ask a Justice is delivered completely virtually allowing the Supreme Court Justices to speak directly to students across the whole UK.
Photo credit: Gary Schwartz