An inter-disciplinary approach to teaching court work skills at under-graduate and post-graduate levels

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• An inter-disciplinary approach to teaching court
  work skills at under-graduate and post-graduate
  levels
• Nicola Carr1, Karen Winter2, Aine Maxwell3 and
  Melissa McCullough4
• 1,2 School of Sociology Social Policy and Social
  Work, Queens University Belfast
• 3 Institute of Professional Legal Studies,
  Queens University Belfast
• 4 Centre for Medical Education, Queens
  University Belfast
• Seminar series
• Stormont
• Thursday 07th June 2012

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Introduction

• Context
• Process
• Student feedback
• Future developments

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1. Context

• Drivers
• Child abuse inquiries
• Policy developments
• Feedback from Judiciary
• University

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2. Process

• Levels
• Case material
• Written court report
• Questions by trainee barristers
• Statement of fact for medical students
• Mock court scenario students observing and
  learning from each other
• Verbal feedback and discussion in
  inter-disciplinary groups
• Use trained barristers/solicitors as Judges
• Video recordings for further learning

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3. Student feedback
Quotes
It provided an opportunity to interact with a
witness other than persons within my own course
that I am friendly with. It was quite helpful in
understanding how I would question such a witness
in practice. (Bar Trainee, 2012)
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3. Student feedback

• The opportunity to work with members of other
  professions who I will be interacting with in the
  future when I graduate and begin practicing. I
  also feel that I have gained a greater insight
  into a very important side to medical practice
  (child protection issues)
• (Medical Student, 2012)

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3. Student feedback

• I thought the experience of being cross examined
  was very valuable as the only real way to prepare
  for such a pressured situation is to experience
  it.
• (Social Work Student)

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3. Student feedback
Statistics
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3. Student feedback
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3. Student feedback
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4. Future developments

• Internal
• Shortlisted for teaching award
• Embedding into curriculum
• Developing tools and methods on basis student
  feedback
• Criminal justice component

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4. Future developments

• External
• Building relationships with Judiciary to seek
  their views on areas for improvement
• Involvement in Judicial Studies Board seminar
  series
• PQ award

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More information
For more information please contact
n.carr_at_qub.ac.uk or k.winter_at_qub.ac.uk