Explore the courtroom

We're one of the few UK universities with a replica courtroom – a realistic copy of a Crown Court, where students can gain the practical experience they need to start their legal career, through mooting and simulated court cases.

The courtroom has a witness stand, a jury box, a public gallery and a dock for defendants. There are 4 ceiling mounted cameras, so exercises can be filmed, analysed and reflected on later. Courtroom exercises can also be streamed to other seminar rooms for viewing and analysis.

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The back of a barrister in court wearing a peruke

Students use the replica courtroom to develop skills needed as a lawyer or barrister, such as speaking confidently, persuasion, negotiation and argumentation.

The courtroom is also an ideal location for students to practice skills such as arguing a point under stressful circumstances, being able to address groups of people and being confident under pressure.

Mooting competitions are arranged by the Law Society and take place in a courtroom setting, in which two teams of two argue their case before a judge or judges.

Learn your craft in our courtroom

Replica Crown Court 

Watch this short video to discover our replica courtroom and see where you'll practise trials and take part in mooting competitions.

The benefits of having a replica Crown Court are that if one of our students wants to be a barrister in the future or a solicitor advocate, then it really gives them the opportunity to practise a trial and various court hearings in a courtroom setting.

Although this is a crown court, so it's a criminal court, we also use it for civil cases too. We're one of the only universities in the country that has a replica courtroom. This really gives students, when they go on from university, some really important skills that are valuable not only in a legal career, but also in a lot of other careers as well.

The student Law Society do a lot of activities in here, run mock trials, mooting competitions, and it gives our students really a chance to let their hair down and have a bit of fun in here.

We use the wigs, we use the gowns, we get a real judge in and we've got the cameras in here so you can go and film your performances.

You can -- it's a really good learning space. It's so lovely to see how our students grow in the years that they're with us. Our replica courtroom helps us to do that.

Equipment and rooms

Our replica Crown Court includes: 

  • 4 ceiling mounted cameras
  • A projector
  • Video linked interview rooms
  • 2 TV screens
  • Witness stand
  • Space for jurors
  • A dock for defendants
  • Jury retiring room
  • IT support technician and administrative support

Hire the courtroom

External organisations regularly hire the courtroom facilities for staff training in advocacy and expert testimony.

Please contact Martine Eneas at martine.eneas@port.ac.uk or call 023 9284 4080 to request a personalised quote.

Once pricing and availability have been confirmed, our Conference and Lettings department will finalise the details.

Where to find us

Mock Courtroom

1st Floor
Portsmouth Law School
Anglesea Building
Anglesea Road
Portsmouth
PO1 3DJ