The popular annual NWU-Juta Mock Trial competition is celebrating its tenth anniversary. This year the competition will take place in an online format.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Juta Mock Trial competition did not take place in 2020 but is continuing this year in its mission to give law students the opportunity to gain practical experience.

The competition is a product of the vision of Adv René Koraan, director for professional development and community engagement and senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law on the campus of the North-West University (NWU) in Potchefstroom.

René started the competition in 2011, initially for the Potchefstroom Campus, but since 2014 it has grown into an intercampus competition. She saw it as an opportunity for second-and third-year students to gain much-needed experience. It also offers incentives in terms of prizes. In 2019 the winners walked away with prizes to the value of R60 000.

Koraan says students have exceeded expectations with 140 entries this year across the NWU’s campuses. The first elimination rounds have already been completed and the semi-final is scheduled to take place on 31 July. The final of the competition will consist of two teams going head-to-head on 2 August.

“Students enjoy the competition and are eager to learn,” says René. "It is evident that the students improve every year. They also put in the extra work – not just to win the competition, but to be better. We should never underestimate the impact that competitions and workshops such as these have on the development of young aspiring lawyers."

Like in previous years, 2019’s mock trials were immensely popular, with teams from all the NWU's campuses participating. The event was also attended by various distinguished guests from the legal fraternity.