This year’s national final will be held at the Old Bailey on 23 April 2016, bringing together the top 18 scoring schools from the regional heats.

Lynn McMullan, a former pupil of Dalriada and one of the school’s barrister mentors, said: “I have really enjoyed working with my former school and it’s great to see them reach the national finals in the Old Bailey in London. I want to congratulate the students and their teacher, Susan Gregg, on their hard work, determination and skill to have won in Belfast.”

Craig Dunford BL, an experienced commercial lawyer who has been mentoring Dalriada over a number of years, added: “I am thrilled to see Dalriada make it through to another Regional Final, having done so some years back. I have no doubt the pupils, parents and teachers are very happy to see their repeated success and heading back to London for the final competition.”

The Bar Mock Trials involves teams of students aged 15-18 from schools across the UK presenting opposing sides of specially written criminal cases in a real crown court setting.

The students take on the roles of lawyers, witnesses, court staff and jurors, and their performances are judged by real judges and senior barristers. The Bar Mock Trial competition is a practical and challenging way to educate young people about their legal rights and responsibilities, the criminal justice system, and the legal process and profession generally, while at the same time improving their public speaking, analytical and team-working skills.