Schools’ Question Time

“No matter what your background, if you are good enough and have the right qualities, we want you.”

Lady Justice Heather Hallett

Question Time events give school pupils the unique opportunity to put forward their own questions to panels of judges. Previous topics have included knife crime, the impact of artificial intelligence on the justice system, human rights law on leaving the EU, and the variety of work undertaken by a judge.

Students attend a special School’s Question Time in honour of Dr Ivy Williams, May 2022

In celebration of the centenary of Dr Ivy Williams, the first woman to be called to the Bar of England and Wales, the Judicial Office hosted a Question Time with a panel of four women judges at the Royal Courts of Justice. These events bring together students from across the country to provide encouragement and to make clear that no matter your background, ethnicity, sex, gender or physical ability, a career in law is open to all.

To view the full article, visit: Students attend a special School’s Question Time in honour of Dr Ivy Williams – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.

Pupils learn more about judiciary at Schools Question Time event, January 2020

The Judicial Office’s diversity team organised a School’s Question Time event in collaboration with the National Justice Museum, which has a base in the Royal Courts of Justice, and Young Citizens which is the largest charity involved in public legal education in the UK.

Below is a three-minute video with some highlights of the event:

To read the full article, visit: Pupils learn more about judiciary at Schools Question Time event – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.

Judicial Question Time for schools, March 2019

A panel of judges answered questions put to them by a live audience of students from eight schools.

Lady Justice Heather Hallett chaired the panel. She was joined by Mrs Justice Cutts, Deputy Lead Diversity and Community Relations Judge Tan Ikram and DCRJs HHJ Angela Morris and REJ Fiona Monk.

When the children were interviewed after the event, it was very clear to see their perceptions of the judiciary had changed in a positive direction from this single event.

Here is a six-minute video with some highlights of the event:

Please visit our YouTube page (external link) to watch an hour-long version of the event.

Note to teachers: Questions are time-marked as you may wish to use some of the topics for group discussions (see attachment below).

The judges imparted a lot of useful advice to the school’s audience and Lady Justice Hallett emphasised the importance of effective communication irrespective of what career path is chosen.

She spoke about:

  • the art of communication and its importance to success
  • how to persist with your dreams
  • staying professional in the most trying of circumstances
  • qualities needed to be a judge such as good listening skills and resilience
  • being aware of personal barriers you may put up which may thwart your progress or undermine your confidence
  • and making the most of your opportunities.

The overall message is that, if you have the talent and qualities needed and determination to succeed, then irrespective of your background, a judicial career is open to you, alongside a wide range of other careers in the law and the justice system.

Our full news page is available here: News and updates – Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.