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Sixth formers have a taste of life as a law student at Oxford

14 October 2008

On Tuesday 14 October 2008 sixth formers from schools throughout Oxfordshire are to sample life as a student at Oxford University. More than 170 pupils will attend the inaugural High Sheriff's Law Lecture to be given by Sir Mark Potter, President of the Family Division, in the University's Examination Schools on the High Street in Oxford. The school groups will have tea at Christ Church and then sit in The Court Sermon in the presence of the Hon Mr Justice Bean at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford.

Many of the pupils will not have met an Oxford academic before, and this school visit should give them the opportunity not only to experience the law lecture, but also allow them the chance to meet with members of the University's Law Faculty who will accompany them on their visit.

Last year a similar event was staged and pupils, many of whom are studying law at A' level, reported that they felt  'included' in the event in a very special way. The opportunity to participate has been widened even further this year - with schools throughout the county received an invitation with 16 schools and sixth-form colleges electing to come this year.

Professor Timothy Endicott, Dean of Oxford Law, said: 'Like the rest of our legal system, this celebration of the work of the courts has its roots in the middle ages. Today it is linked to the future of the law, because we involve students from Oxford schools. Law in the University is very closely connected with the work of judges, and a lecture from one of our country's leading judges is a really good way for students to see the challenges that lawyers and judges face, and the skill and hard work that they put into their work.'

The High Sheriff's Law Lecture started four years ago and currently is only sponsored for one more year. The primary objective of the Lecture is to reinterpret and show to the legal, clerical, civic and academic communities of Oxfordshire, the traditional High Sheriff's duties of upholding the Law and supporting those involved in its administration and teaching.

The lecture offers a senior figure in the legal community a platform to air their views and hopefully widen public understanding of current legal issues of the day.  It also shows that High Sheriffs actually do useful and interesting things that are widely accessible to the local community.  This year's lecture is entitled 'The family in the 21st century: exploding the nuclear myth'.

The High Sheriff's Lecture starts at the Examination Schools on the High Street, Oxford, at 4pm. To arrange interviews or take photographs from the High Sheriff's Lecture, please contact the University of Oxford Press Office on 01865 280534 or email press.office@admin.ox.ac.uk

Notes for Editors

  • History of the Court Sermon: It has been the custom since at least the sixteenth century for there to be an annual Service to mark the beginning of "the Assizes" which used to be held in the Shire Hall - conveniently situated next to Oxford Prison and connected to it by an underground passage through which the prisoners were brought into the dock. 'The Assizes' was the title of the visit by a High Court Judge to dispose of criminal and civil business in the County. Traditionally the Service was held on the first working day of the autumn visit at the start of the new legal year. Until the implementation of the Courts Act 1971 abolishing the Assize system which had been set up before Magna Carta nearly 800 years before, the Service was known as the "Assize Service". It was held in the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin in High Street until 1989. In those days there was a procession to and from the Church but that feature was abandoned some years ago for reasons of security. The Sermon at the Assize Service was preached by a Preacher chosen by the University's Summoner of Preachers. That sermon - which by modern standards was of interminable length - was published immediately after it was delivered and is commonly regarded as the beginning of the Oxford Movement.
    After the abolition of Assizes, High Court Judges continued to visit Oxford and now sit in the Crown Court in St Aldate's. The traditional Service is now known as the 'Court Sermon'. Since 1989 the Service has been held in Christ Church Cathedral. The University's Summoner of Preachers continues to appoint the Preacher and the person selected is usually, but not always, a College Chaplain.