Top tips for aspiring lawyers –Tip 1: Court Observation
Date posted: 3 December 2021
Three brilliant young solicitor apprentices have joined us on a new 6 year path to qualification – Goldinne Opoku-Agyemann, Hamza Gallo and Zara Haleem.
We thought we would ask them to share their learning journey with you – by giving Top Tips that they learn from day one.
Tip1: Court Observation
Observing court hearings is a great way for aspiring lawyers to learn more about the profession and bring law studies to life!
Watch here to see Goldinne and Hamza give their top tips on how to observe hearings in the First Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) at Taylor House, at the Royal Courts of Justice and at the Supreme Court.
Their top tips include:
- Remember you’ll pass through security on the way in, so be prepared!
- Check the hearing lists the day before to see what’s on and plan your day, so you have some idea of what you’d like to observe. Take time if you can to read about the different cases, so you have some idea of what they’re about and can narrow down what you’d like to observe.
- Remember at the moment many hearings will be held remotely, and double-check the timings of in-person hearings so you don’t miss them.
- Once in the court buildings, check the paper listings and/or ask the clerks or at reception for guidance about what hearings can be observed and in which courtroom they are being held.
- Remember that you can’t take photos or record inside the courtrooms.
- Visit the museum in the Supreme Court and the exhibition in the Royal Courts of Justice, for some extra legal nourishment.
- Dress reasonably smartly and of course be quiet in the courtrooms.
The three courts in the video are: