High school students given taste of courtroom life
Emerging legal topics were hotly contested when legal studies students from across Rockhampton took part in an annual high school debating competition at the Supreme Court of Queensland recently.
In a longstanding partnership, CQUniversity’s School of Business and Law joins forces with the Central Queensland Law Association to provide the opportunity to students in the region.
The competition was adjudicated by Magistrate Beckinsale, Magistrate Kahlert and CQUniversity lecturer and Head of Course for Law, Dr Lance Rundle.
“Emmaus College debated against Rockhampton Grammar School on the highly contentious topic that youth offenders should be punished as adults, and Rockhampton Grammar School won the first round,” Dr Rundle said.
“North Rockhampton State High School debated against The Cathedral College on another hot topic in the media - that the criminal justice system should focus on rehabilitation over punishment, and The Cathedral College won the second round,” he said.
Dr Rundle said the annual competition gave high school students an opportunity to research the law, and stand up in a courtroom and argue before members of the judiciary.
“The experience that high school students obtained from participating will help prepare them for a career in the law,” Paula Phelan of Phelan Family Law in Rockhampton said.
Phelan praised the students for their courageous determination to appear in a courtroom, and argue points of law that tested their advocacy skills.
“The students were well-prepared which is an essential part of legal practice,” Dr Rundle said.
