PUPILS FROM across Dundee gained first-hand experience of laying down the law when they visited the city’s sheriff court on Saturday.

The event was designed to raise pupil awareness of Scotland’s legal system and the professionals who work in it.

Teams from Morgan, Grove, Braeview and Harris academies and Craigie High took part in mock trials involving an assault and drugs offences.

Under the watchful eye of real-life clerks, fiscals and solicitors, pupils took on the role of prosecution and defence lawyers, court staff, witnesses and jurors.

They ran their own simplified criminal jury trials using an information pack compiled by the Faculty of Advocates, and with the help of the professional volunteers.

Dean of the faculty Richard Keen QC said, “The MiniTrial initiative is an excellent way to help young people appreciate the value of Scotland’s unique legal system and to discover, in an enjoyable way, how it works in practice.”

The initiative, launched by High Court judge Lord Kinclaven and the faculty six years ago, aims to demystify the law in an enjoyable way and to allow pupils to see what really happens in a criminal court.

It is also intended as a means of giving an insight to those young people who might be considering a legal career.