By Alexia Hibner & Amelia Melo, Y11
Law 101 is a newly founded club on campus, centred around learning about the legal system through criminal cases and mock trials. We decided to ask the founders, India Tamari (Y12) and Martina Ravano (Y12), to elaborate on their club in this feature!
What inspired you to create the law club?
We are both really interested in law and international relations and since there are few opportunities to discuss and learn about those topics within our school curriculum, we took this as an opportunity for us to take initiative in this area.
How does it work?
The law club sessions vary each time. One week we may have a discussion about a trial that particularly interests the group, the next week could include guidance department talk about legal studies, the next week there could be a mock trial going on, the week after we could be looking at a documentary of a trial… The possibilities are endless. The only requirement is a link with the law.
What is going on in the club at this moment?
At this moment, the entire law club is working hard to prepare for the first mock trial of the year, which is on the Ted Bundy case. It will take place on the 26th of November.
What are the purposes and goals of the law club?
The law club aims to gather a group of motivated students interested in justice to have a word in our community. As leaders we aim to share as much knowledge as we have. Our main goals are for every member to present a trial that has impacted their view on the judicial system in order to enlighten their colleagues. Secondly, we want to put knowledge into action through mock trials. This consists of recreating as closely as possible a trial that has taken place. By doing so, we all get a glimpse of what life in the courtroom feels like. Finally, we want the law club to be very flexible with the students, not putting additional pressure on them. Henceforth, a few sessions will be learned through movies and occasionally documentaries to give our classmates a varied interpretation of what law can consist of.
How does the law club differ to other ULP clubs on campus?
It is really discussion based rather than presentation based. This means that everyone is encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas instead of being fed some information by the leaders of the club or teachers.
How do members of the law club benefit from your meetings?
Through the law club, our members benefit from a comfortable and relaxed environment where anything can be said. We want our members to feel welcomed and learn, debate, and grow in a fun and interactive discussion based setting.
What type of students is the law club aimed at?
Any motivated, serious, and creative student with an interest in the law or international relations is welcome to join.
For any students interested in joining (especially if you’re considering pursuing law at a university level), meetings take place weekly from 12:40 to 13:25 every Thursday in GB103!
