The exciting annual North-West University (NWU) mock trials, hosted by the Faculty of Law with the support of Juta, will take place on 17 and 18 August at the Mahikeng High Court.

As in previous years, this year’s competition will see participants from all three of the NWU’s campuses competing for the title of Juta-NWU mock trial winners.

The highly popular competition not only gives students the opportunity to put their law expertise into practice but also provides entertaining “courtroom drama” complete with complainants, accused, a magistrate and capable teams of prosecutors and lawyers. The fact that this year’s competition takes place at the High Court gives it even more prestige as it will place participants in one of the country’s most revered judicial institutions.

The winning teams will share in prizes to the value of R62 000. This is a big incentive for all who participate.

Various teams of four students each will take each other on in a “criminal case”, pleading for the Defence and State respectively. Semi-finalists will already be arriving on 15 August for a two-day workshop. This will help students prepare for the semi-final and let them get to know each other.

“It is the only competition of its kind in the country where second- and third-year law students compete against each other,” says Adv René Koraan, lecturer at the Faculty of Law on the campus in Potchefstroom, whose brainchild the competition is.

This is a wonderful opportunity to see the NWU’s second- and third-year students in action in “court” and showcase their law expertise. If you would like to attend the exciting court proceedings, phone Adv René Koraan (Potchefstroom) at 018 299 4287 or send an email to rene.koraan@nwu.ac.za.