HUMANITIES
UNIT 1 LEGAL STUDIES TRIP TO THE DANDENONG MAGISTRATES’ COURT
On Tuesday 2 May and Thursday 4 May students from our VCE Unit 1 Legal Studies classes attended an excursion to the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court. The excursion to the court aligned with the VCE Legal Studies curriculum, complementing the theoretical knowledge acquired in the classroom with real-world applications.
The students were fortunate to be able to ask questions of one of the Magistrates and observe several different matters during their morning visit. The courtroom atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation as our students listened intently to the arguments put forth by both the prosecution and accused and they observed the difficult work of the Magistrates in upholding justice and ensuring fair proceedings, witnessing firsthand the criminal law principles they had studied in action.
Here are some reflections from our students:
Mrs Angela Masterson and Mrs Sophie D’ambrosio
VCE Legal Studies Teachers
It was enlightening to attend the Magistrates’ Court for the first time. I was impressed by the level of the proceedings as it was highly efficient and effective. Observing the Magistrate casually giving sentences based on all the evidence presented, was intriguing to me as it demonstrated their quick-thinking capabilities and their experience in the field.
Nick Min, Year 11
Going to the Magistrates’ Court was an amazing experience which allowed us to see what we learned in class in action. It was intriguing to see how efficiently court runs and to be in the environment of the court. Furthermore, the cases which we watched were very unique and interesting.
Will Wemyss, Year 11
Attending the Magistrates’ Court for the first time was an eye-opening experience. I was struck by the seriousness of the proceedings but also impressed by the professionalism and efficiency of the court staff. Witnessing the Magistrate make difficult decisions based on the evidence presented by the police was very interesting.
Kevin Tran, Year 12
The Magistrates’ Court was definitely an interesting experience, as we had the opportunity to actually see how a case would be performed which is much different than learning about it. Furthermore, the courts were also exciting as we observed the practices that we are learning about in class which was intriguing.
Austin Seeto-Grossi, Year 11
The excursion was a really good experience for me. I saw a lot of how the court procedures worked and what happened. I learnt a lot about how the system worked and the roles people had to play in court. What surprised me was how fast each case went and how many cases I could watch in just over an hour. I would recommend the excursion to other students as I feel like it expands your knowledge a lot and the legal system is very interesting itself.
Clare Toh, Year 10
On Thursday 4 May, myself and many of my Year 11 Legal Studies classmates travelled to the Dandenong Magistrates Court. It was a great experience where we were able to see in front of us many examples of the sorts of aspects of the legal system we have studied. As the Magistrates Court is a lower court, the majority of the crimes were for minor offences like driving under the influence of drugs. It was interesting to see that all of the accused individuals pleaded guilty, and all seemed like they wanted to improve from their mistakes.
Within the court most of the accused did not have legal representation and went to court alone. For the accused with lawyers, it was interesting to see the lawyers engaging with the judge and working to try to receive a reduced sentence. I am very grateful to Ms Masterson, my Legal Studies teacher, for helping to organise this excursion.
Jack Graffeo, Year 11
My court experience was exciting as I have never been before, and seeing people there whose lives are about to change for better or for worse was definitely an experience. What surprised me was how quickly and calmly some of the cases were dealt with and how they asked the same questions to everyone despite the difference in their cases. Overall, it was definitely an interesting learning experience being able to witness court cases first-hand with real-life cases and consequences.
Liz Reilly, Year 11
The visit to the Magistrates’ Court excursion was a thrilling experience. We were able to experience first-hand judges and lawyers in action and were able to grasp an understanding to the types of real-world crimes that occur in today's society. The class learnt about how the courtroom is positioned and the different roles that are played when a case is heard.
Additionally, we were able to see the strength of the punishments, and how different charges can form the consequence that the accused receive. I would highly recommend this excursion for future legal studies students, and to other students who are interested in legal studies as it is a great learning experience.
Jack Gale, Year 11
