Collaborative professional learning in a simulated Magistrates Court

One of the most difficult things about learning to be a professional is developing the confidence to practice effectively alongside other professionals. Our aim in this workshop is to present a case study of a ‘safe learning space’ for students learning to take up professional roles in the law. The first half of the session will be devoted to an exposition of the background to the highly innovative simulated Magistrates Court, including visual material such as excerpts from the simulated courts, “streamed” training material on studentcentral, etc. This will be presented in terms of: • outlining the collaboration which led to the simulated court initiative • arguments for the collaboration from an educational perspective • preparations for the event and those involved, including external participants such as the Crown Prosecution Service, Sussex Police Authority, Her Majesty’s Court Service; the benefits and problems for police students; the benefits and problems for law students. • feedback from participants, including external professional participants • opportunities for extending collaborative professional learning opportunities as the simulated courts mature , for example in the fields of journalism, social work, probation, and so on The second half of the session will be an extended opportunity for questions and open discussion