From the Humanities Department

On Tuesday, our Year 11 Legal Studies class went on an excursion to the local court in Katoomba. The trip proved to be an incredibly valuable experience, allowing us to witness justice in action, outside of a textbook or the news. We were granted the opportunity of experiencing a guided tour of the court from one of the court officials, who showed us around various parts of one of Australia’s oldest local courts, including a district courtroom and even holding cells. 

We then sat down with the courtroom staff including the magistrate, who discussed the court itself, its workings and her own profession, as well as answering our own questions. This was a highly interesting experience, and immensely helpful in understanding the various professions within the field of law, and the ways in which we may enter the field. The highlight of the trip was being able to sit in on two cases which were sitting on the day. Through this, we got to watch various elements of the courtroom in action, including the prosecution, the witnesses giving evidence, the defence and the decision from the magistrate herself. The second case in particular, involving an assault and property damage, proved to be highly engaging and informative, as we witnessed the sharing of video evidence, as well as footage of a police interrogation. 

Overall, the trip was a highly enriching experience that greatly enhanced our enjoyment and understanding of the subject, and we would highly recommend Year 11 Legal Studies to anyone who is interested in this experience!

Tom, Zoe and Sienna-Rose