Sixth-class children in Co Meath recently staged a hugely successful mock trial in Trim Courthouse.

Local solicitor Gillian Brennan (Nathaniel Lacy and Partners) worked with teacher James Brennan to coach the children about the Irish legal system.

Gillian is a recent graduate of the Certificate in Public Legal Education run by the Law Society’s Diploma Centre.

This programme develops the skills of solicitors to run an effective public legal education programme in their community, based on the Street Law system of learning.

The programme aims to encourage lifelong civic engagement and break down barriers to legal education from a young age. Gillian put this into practice with Bohermeen National School, in Navan, Co Meath.

Giant of a case

The case at Trim Courthouse last November was listed as DPP vs Jack Jones and it hinged on the State’s bid to prosecute ‘Jack Jones’ for the murder of ‘Arthur Giant’.

Cavan solicitor Anne Dolan gave freely of her time to act as ‘judge’ on the day. For an hour and a half, both prosecution and defence ‘barristers’ put their case, with the aim of proving that Jack was guilty ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.

The 12 ‘jurors’ were drawn from fifth class. In the end, they delivered a unanimous guilty verdict. An appeal is pending against the ‘conviction’ and the 25-year prison sentence.

Gillian says: “Street Law is a fantastic initiative from the Law Society. It gave me the impetus to work with national-school children, educating them about access to justice, human rights, and the courts system in Ireland. It was a wonderful opportunity to explain to the children the role of the solicitor in our justice system.

We also had fantastic support from the school and the school community and, in particular, the class teacher James Brennan.”

Mr Brennan added: “This was the stuff of dreams and something the children will never forget. I have no doubt we have some budding barristers and solicitors in the making, though hopefully no defendants!” he laughed.

He thanked the Law Society for a “brilliant initiative” and the Courts Service for its “amazing support”.

Research has shown that one year of Street Law training improves critical-thinking skills by almost 25%.