This is the first mock trial organized by interns at the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, during which the young lawyers demonstrated the knowledge and skills they learned in their work with judges and other judicial staff.  The mock trial topic was criminal law, in the framework of which the interns used their own names as well as the names of imaginary characters, having put together the indictment themselves, while using no actual data or information from real court records.

The Court President, Registrar, and many other judges, legal advisors and officers supported the event by attending the mock trial in the courtroom, while other colleagues watched the event via internal video streaming.  

The Registrar for the Court has noted that such forms of practical engagement are preferable for they encourage team work and develop skills that are necessary for judicial operations, regardless of whether one may eventually become a judge, a prosecutor or defense counsel.

During project preparation, some of the interns tried to assess the significance of the experience:

“The objective of the project was that already during the initial years of our work experience we start employing the key skills a lawyer should have, such as a studious examination of each specific case, application of legal logic to such cases, the techniques of direct, cross, and re-direct examination, while the project also aims at honing the valuable speaking skills. Besides, it seems to me that most of us from this generation are rather temperamental when it comes to our dominant traits, so it was useful to see and learn how to present own points of view, how to fight for your ideas, master your possible vanity and, finally, what it means to work as part of a large team. This was such a useful experience on so many levels.”

“As for preparations for yesterday’s mock trial, I would like to note that they were held in the spirit of team work, commitment and exchange of the knowledge learned throughout our internship. I believe that those preparations reflected the institution in which we had the opportunity not only to acquire legal knowledge, especially in terms of comprehensive nature of processes held before the Court, but also to grasp the significance of mutual collaboration with our colleagues, with a stress on the support from our mentors and superior staff, which has been but an immense motivation for us to continue our professional development.”

“This was indeed a beautiful experience and a true team work, with everything it carries. I am glad that we even managed to sort out certain minor disputes by ultimately agreeing to a compromise, and my personal satisfaction is that through this I have done a bit more than what was expected, a kind of a bonus in relation to intern’s standard duties.”

The legal advisor who was their mentor during preparatory works has said: “It has been my immense pleasure to work with these exceptional young people. I have been thrilled by their energy and desire to demonstrate what they have had a chance to see and learn over a one-year period of their work at the Court.”

The Court takes the opportunity to thank the young colleagues for their work and effort, and wishes them a successful continuation of the judicial careers.