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AIBU?

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Original poster

To take my Son to Court?

57 replies

Sharpandshineyteeth · 29/01/2019 15:28

.....not like that 😊

He is 15yo. In his GCSE year. He is lacking motivation, although he wants to go to sixth form, he is only aiming for the minimum grades.

He has no idea what he would like to do when he is older. He loves arguing and debating and has a really good eye for detail. I thought a Solicitor would be a good career for him to aim for. He said he is not sure, so I have said we could go to Court in the feb half term and see what they do.

I have been to Court myself as a Social worker so know what to expect but it just seems a bit...I don’t know...cheeky, to use a Court case as work experience. But then again I am desperate for him to become more motivated.

We have no family or friends around us in professional jobs that he is interested in to offer him work experience another way either.

OP posts:
LadyandGent · 29/01/2019 17:00

And I knew a guy who used to go to court whenever it was on just to amuse himself lol.

ghostyslovesheets · 29/01/2019 17:03

what does HE want to do?

Puzzledandpissedoff · 29/01/2019 17:04

Just checked for you ... it's children under 14 who aren't allowed in, so you'd be okay

www.prisonersfamilies.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Going-to-court.doc

LadyandGent · 29/01/2019 17:05

My day out was in what is called in Ireland The District Court. If it needs to be heard by a jury, it goes to the Circuit Court. Then there are courts above that such as the Supreme Court etc., but I think they deal with appeals maybe?
I'd say the Irish District Court is similar to England's Magistrates Court.
So in the district court, there is no jury, just the prosecution (police) and the defence (solicitor/barrister). The judge decides.
Not sure what the criteria is for things needing to go to the Circuit Court though. Maybe the length of sentence at stake?

EvaHarknessRose · 29/01/2019 17:05

Great idea - if he is up for it. Bribe him with a meal out after.

There's a big careers exhibition thing advertised on Facebook etc I a thinking of taking dds to, called ' What Next' or something.

NicolaStart · 29/01/2019 17:05

At the Old Bailey no U14s admitted, 16 and under have to be accompanied by an adult.

I think it is a good ting for young people to witness, whatever their aspirations.

Guineapiglet345 · 29/01/2019 17:07

If he’s lacking motivation I don’t think solicitor would be the career for him, they generally work a lot of hours plus studying for years.

LadyandGent · 29/01/2019 17:08

Oh and I was actually in a Magistrate's court once. It's different to Ireland, in that there are three Magistrates (are they the same as judges?). That was empty though. When I was in the Irish court, you couldn't get in the door (I think there had been a traveller feud and that case was on the same day).

Iizzyb · 29/01/2019 17:09

I think it's a great idea to give him some exposure to the world of work. However careers in law are about a lot more than arguing and the competition is really really tough. As a solicitor I'm not sure I would want my son to follow me into this profession.

Can you get him exposure to other workplaces as well? Maybe unofficial work experience with friends/friends of friends etc?

LadyandGent · 29/01/2019 17:09

But yes, I agree, for someone lacking motivation and aiming for lowest grades possible, law is a pie in the sky. An apprenticeship might be better.

Lovemusic33 · 29/01/2019 17:14

What grades is he predicted? Just because he’s good at arguing and debating it doesn’t mean he would make a good solicitor or want to be one. My dd (same age) is great at arguing and debating but has no interest in law or working in court.

I think it’s really hard for 15/16 year olds to know what direction they want to go in after GCSE, many of us work in totally different jobs then we trained for after GCSE?

It could be a good expereance for him but it could put him off working Iaw.

Lovemusic33 · 29/01/2019 17:16

My dd has changed her direction in the last few months, for years she wanted to be a English teach, now she wants to be a computer programmer, next month she will probably want to be something else, luckily she’s doing well in all subjects so I don’t mind what she does as long as she continues to get her predicted grades.

DarlingNikita · 29/01/2019 17:18

Wouldn't most court work be barristers rather than solicitor?

I came on to say this. Solicitors do all the work in the background and tend to be office-based, I think I get all my 'knowledge' on this area from having watched This Life twenty-odd years ago

MakeItAmazing · 29/01/2019 17:18

Having been a material witness in a very distressing case I feel rather uncomfortable about the situation being entertainment, as it feels that some people see a trip to court as, even if they couch it by saying it's interesting.

Parsley1234 · 29/01/2019 17:20

My complete guilty pleasure is going to the Old Bailey fir the day I took my 14year old last year he was fascinated. You can view which trials and court numbers on line and then you just ask for that court number. We saw a gang murder trial the defendants were my sons age it was very sobering

Original poster
Sharpandshineyteeth · 29/01/2019 17:29

Thank you for all your advice and for checking whether he could go 😊

He’s really up for it as well. It was me who suggested it and then got a bit hestitant.

I was thinking magistrates to see what solicitors do and Crown Court for Barristers.

OP posts:
FallenMadonnawiththeBadBoobies · 29/01/2019 17:35

Wouldn't most court work be barristers rather than solicitor?

In the lower courts, certainly in the County Court, there are as many solicitor advocates as there are barristers. In fact, there are a great many unqualified representatives and litigants in person.

Nowadays, there are more and more solicitors obtaining a Higher Rights qualification which enables them to appear in the higher courts. How much that is exercised in practice, I couldn’t say.

If he is interested, I think it’s a good idea to take him into a court. However, I feel that the best “motivation” for a teenager upon reaching 16 is to “encourage” him to get a part time job. We did this for our DS1 a few years back when he was a lazy, freewheeling so-and-so. Funnily enough, he has just been telling me how grateful he is that we pushed him into getting a job at 16. He didn’t think that at the time though!

Racecardriver · 29/01/2019 17:36

You don’t see many solicitors in court.

Racecardriver · 29/01/2019 17:37

Maybe try one of the work experience days that firms offer to school students. Have a look on legal cheek

Rainatnight · 29/01/2019 17:42

It's a great idea. You sound like a lovely mum.

What about taking him to the House of Commons too? Easy to get into the public gallery there (but check online and pick an interesting day). He might want to be a politician!

Otherwise, does his school have a debating society? My fairly Un-academic brother got into his career in a roundabout way through debating.

Has he thought about NCS in the summer?

Bombardier25966 · 29/01/2019 17:44

@Racecardriver Yes, you do. See the explanation above your post.

vintagemoo · 29/01/2019 17:49

This is a good idea - the Courts are full of people watching for that very reason. I've seen entire classes of Chinese students in there.

But, you'll want to check the court list (ask the clerks on the door to tell you what's coming up). If it's a mag court, could be a day of petty theft and it's very boring.

I'd aim for a Crown Court in a big city. Or Old Bailey for something juicier even!

NeopreneMermaid · 29/01/2019 17:51

My mum took me to see part of a High Court case when I was about 11. A murder trial if I remember correctly. It was a great experience.

I also shadowed a reporter in the press box a few times on work experience at our local magistrate's court and was a bit surprised to see the girl I sat next to in science up for obtaining goods by deception.

Pigflewpast · 29/01/2019 17:55

My ds is interested in doing law A level and at the open evening the law teachers were recommending he spent a day in Court. How about journalism as an other idea?

Nubbin · 29/01/2019 18:15

Employment tribunals are open to the public and the cases may be a lot more accessible in terms of witness evidence as to what happened or not. Plus you get an insight into both sides of the world of work. Pick something with a pd or discrimination code.