The Francis Burt Law Education Programme groups participate in community legal education tours that may include:
- an empty court activity – court room layout and court personnel;
- observing a court in session (Supreme Court, District Court and Magistrates Court); and
- scripted mock trials that are appropriate to the age of the group.
Our programmes are mapped to the Western Australian curriculum and are specifically tailored for Year 3-6 primary school, Year 7-12 high school, TAFE, university and community groups.
Professional development opportunities for teachers and other professions are also available.
Activity Options
Approximately 20-30 minutes
Approximately 20-30 minutes
Approximately 30 minutes
Approximately 30 minutes
Be a judge or lawyer and wear real legal wigs and gowns in the Old Court House. Take the role of a juror, a witness or other court personnel and act out court protocol and procedures in a trial based on a historical or fictitious event. The Education Officer will take photos during the scripted mock trial, which are forwarded to the group leader.
Approximately 45-60 minutes
Alice in Court: The Queen of Hearts has accused Alice of disturbing the peace in Wonderland.A Day in the Life of the Magistrates Court: A scripted recreation of a normal day in the life of the busy and bustling Magistrates Court.The State of Western Australia v. Captain James HOOK: Charged with kidnapping Jack and Maggie Banning, who are Peter Pan’s children, the jury must decide if the accused is guilty or not guilty.The State of Western Australia v. Jamie BROWN: A fictional character accused of arson resulting from a fire that caused extensive damage to the college that s/he attends.The State of Western Australia v. John GAVEN: The true case of a 15-year-old boy, John Gaven, put on trial in the Old Court House in 1844 for murder.The State of Western Australia v. Charlie WRIGHT: A fictional character accused of grievous bodily harm resulting from a one-punch incident outside a suburban party.The State of Western Australia v. Audrey Campbell JACOB: The true case of a 20-year-old Western Australian woman put on trial for the murder of her fiancé, Cyril Gidley, after he was shot at the Government House Ballroom in 1925.
45 minutes
45 minutes
60 minutes
60 minutes
45 minutes
45 minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
Please read our frequently asked questions for important information about the Programme, including supervision and behaviour requirements, emergency procedures, and insurance cover.
Western Australian Curriculum
Curriculum:
Year 3 to 4 Primary School groups do not observe a court in session.
We encourage year 3-4 groups to schedule a 30 min break between the two 45-minute sessions.
Option 1: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Empty court Rule or Law? activity
- Mock trial – Alice in Court
Cost: $20 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $200 per group
Curriculum:
Year 5 Primary School groups do not observe a court in session.
Year 6 Primary School groups can observe a Magistrates Court in session. Students and their parents/guardians should be informed that the students may be exposed to bad language and/or graphic evidence when observing a court in session.
We encourage year 5-6 groups to schedule a 30 min break between the two 60-minute sessions.
Year 5
Option 1: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Mock trial
Parkhurst apprenticeship scheme activity
Cost: $20 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $200 per group
Cost: $20 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $200 per group
Mock trial scenarios
- The State of Western Australia v. Captain James HOOK
Year 6
Option 1: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Empty court activity
- Court in session
- Mock trial
Cost: $20 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $200 per group
Mock trial scenarios
- The State of Western Australia v. Captain James HOOK
- The State of Western Australia v. Jamie BROWN
Curriculum:
Year 7 to 10 Secondary School groups are able to observe a Supreme Court or District Court or Magistrates Court in session.
Students and their parents/guardians need to be informed that the students may be exposed to bad language and/or graphic evidence when observing courts in session.
Option 1: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Empty court activity
- Court in session
- Mock trial
Cost: $20 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $200 per group
Option 2: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Empty court activity
- Court in session
Cost: $20 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $200 per group
Option 3: 1 hour
- Mock trial
Cost: $20 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $200 per group
Mock trial scenarios
- The State of Western Australia v. Jamie BROWN
- The State of Western Australia v. John GAVEN
- The State of Western Australia v. Charlie WRIGHT
WA Curriculum:
Year 11 to 12 Secondary School groups are able to observe a Supreme Court, District Court, Federal Court and/or Magistrates Court in session.
Students and their parents/guardians need to be informed that the students may be exposed to bad language and/or graphic evidence when observing the courts in session.
Option 1: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Empty court general activity
- Court in session (choice of Supreme Court, District Court, Federal Court and/or Magistrates Court)
- Empty Court Politics and Law Syllabus activity
OR - Mock trial
Cost: $20 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $200 per group
Option 2: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Empty court general activity
- Court in session (choice of Supreme Court or District Court and Federal Court or Magistrates Court)
- Empty Court Politics and Law syllabus activity
OR - Mock trial
Cost: $25 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $250 per group
Empty Court Activities
Empty Court General activity
- Courtroom layout and court personnel
Empty Court Politics and Law Syllabus activities
- Court hierarchy
- Civil and criminal pre-trial procedure
- Civil and criminal trials: differences + strengths and weaknesses
- Recently implemented reform (the last ten years) to the criminal law process in Western Australia: The Jury System in WA
- Recently implemented reform (the last ten years) to the criminal law process in Western Australia: Mandatory Sentencing
- Mediation: Supreme Court Registrar presentation
Mock trial scenarios
- The State of Western Australia v. Charlie WRIGHT
- The State of Western Australia v. Audrey Campbell JACOB
Adult Groups
Option 1: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Empty court activity
- Court in session
- Mock trial
Cost: $20 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $200 per group
Mock trial scenarios
- A Day in the Life of the Magistrates Court
- The State of Western Australia v. John GAVEN
- The State of Western Australia v. Charlie WRIGHT
- The State of Western Australia v. Audrey Campbell JACOB
University groups from a number of faculties (e.g. Law and Education faculties) visit the Francis Burt Law Education Programme to complement their on-campus learning programmes.
The programme for university group visits is determined by the purpose of the visit in consultation with the Education Team.
Option 1: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Empty court activity
- Court in session (choice of Supreme Court, District Court, Federal Court and/or Magistrates Court)
- Mock trial
Cost: $20 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $200 per group
Mock trial scenarios
- The State of Western Australia v. John GAVEN
- The State of Western Australia v. Charlie WRIGHT
- The State of Western Australia v. Audrey Campbell JACOB
Option 1: 1 hour – 2 hour 15 minutes
- Empty court activity
- Court in session
- Mock trial
Cost: $45 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $450 per group
Mock trial scenarios
- A Day in the Life of the Magistrates Court
- The State of Western Australia v. John GAVEN
- The State of Western Australia v. Charlie WRIGHT
- The State of Western Australia v. Audrey Campbell JACOB
Option 1: 1 hour – 2 hour 15 minutes
- Empty court activity
- Court in session
- Mock trial
Cost: $45 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $450 per group
Mock trial scenarios
- A Day in the Life of the Magistrates Court
- The State of Western Australia v. John GAVEN
- The State of Western Australia v. Charlie WRIGHT
- The State of Western Australia v. Audrey Campbell JACOB
Professional groups from a number of organisations visit the Francis Burt Law Education Programme to complement their corporate and organisational professional learning programmes.
The programme for professional group visits is determined by the purpose of the visit in consultation with the Education Team.
Option 1: 1 hour – 2 hour 15 minutes
- Empty court activity
- Court in session
- Mock trial
Cost: $55 GST inc per participant. Minimum charge $550 per group
Mock trial scenarios
- A Day in the Life of the Magistrates Court
- The State of Western Australia v. John GAVEN
- The State of Western Australia v. Charlie WRIGHT
- The State of Western Australia v. Audrey Campbell JACOB
