Proctor and Hobbs, a private client law firm, stunned everyone when it worked with the University of Bradford to award Shaikhul Amin a smart car upon his mock trial competition win.

Amin, a final year law student from the University of Bradford, had to prepare to be an advocate in a live-streamed mock trial, along with five other finalists. The winner was decided by a combination of votes from an expert panel and members of the public (with over 800 votes cast).

Aneesa Ehsan, a partner at Proctor & Hobbs and a graduate of the School of Law, said: “Our core principle is ‘the people’s firm’, and have always strived to create as many opportunities as possible, so as to assist the local economy and support local talent. Following the successful Mock Trial Challenge, we expect to continue this as an annual event…”

The applications for the competition opened in July, over the next 3 months, submissions were reviewed, applicants were shortlisted, and the final candidates were then given scenarios for their trial.

The candidates were specially prepared by the team at the Proctor & Hobbs office to make sure they give it their all in the courts. Live on Youtube, Shaikhul’s trial saw him compete against Wiktoria over a scenario involving an assault on a football pitch between two rivals in the local league Derby.

Engobo Emeseh, Head of the School of Law said: “We have fantastic students at the University of Bradford, and we wanted to showcase that – this was about providing a platform to show what they can do.”

Runners-up, Babita Dhand, Wiktoria Lenkiewick, Katie Siobhan and Tamarakuro (Tkay) Agama all received chocolates as well as a £250 amazon voucher.

Don’t your university’s mock trial prizes seem comparatively dull?