Taking students Inside court


Media release

Wednesday, 25 August 2021

Students are being invited Inside court as part of a first-time virtual education series that brings everyone from judges and prosecutors to defence lawyers and journalists out of the court and into the classroom.

The Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council’s new initiative, Inside court, is a unique opportunity for legal studies students from across the state to speak directly with, and ask questions of, those involved in the justice system.

Council Chair and former judge, John Robertson, said the free online question and answer sessions will be exciting on multiple fronts.

“Giving students the chance to hear first-hand from seasoned legal professionals and a court reporter is a real way for them to understand sentencing, different experiences of it, and how complex the process is,” Mr Robertson said.

“Also, being our first virtual program, Inside court will allow us to connect with classrooms across the state – especially rural and remote schools that we haven’t been able to physically visit, or that might not get the opportunity to visit our courts.

”Mr Robertson said Inside court was designed specifically to benefit students as they near end of year exams.

“The sessions will be engaging and add benefit to the academic studies of our Year 11 and 12 students, supporting them during their examinations because each session is aligned with the legal studies curriculum,” Mr Robertson said.

“Students who participate in the sessions will gain a better understanding of topics covered by the curriculum directly from people who have first-hand knowledge of the system, and we hope they feel inspired to take a lifelong interest in sentencing and the court system.

”Running during September and October, two sessions will be held each month via zoom.

The sessions will be split into 30-minute portions, allowing the guest speaker to share information about their interactions, or role, with the justice system, and then 30-minutes for students to ask questions.

Mr Robertson said bookings for the first and second sessions, ‘Seat at the bench’ and ‘The smoking gun’, are now open, with students able to ask questions of and speak with a current sitting judge and Jodie Wooldridge QC from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“It’s not every day you get to speak to a judge or QC, so the virtual face-to-face sessions will be something really special for the students participating,” Mr Robertson said.

Spaces will be limited to allow students a chance to personally engage with the presenter and have their questions answered.

Legal Studies and Civics and Citizenship teachers can express their interest in booking their students into one of the first two sessions or find out further information about the Inside court series on the Council’s website.

Media inquiries

Jane Coates
Media and Engagement Manager
0459 887 077 /  (07) 3738 9498
Laura Mac Kenzie
Senior Engagement Officer
0437 967 376(07) 3738 9501