Confidence in the Courtroom is a practical advocacy skills program for criminal law practitioners with little or no courtroom experience or advocacy training who wish to practice their advocacy skills in a supportive and realistic environment. It is also a great opportunity for practitioners with some advocacy experience to improve their skills. The program is a one-day event that will be held at Downing Centre Local Court from 9.00 am to 4.30 pm on Saturday 24 May. 

Throughout the day, participants will take part in a number of mock court sessions, run over multiple courtrooms, with Local Court Magistrates presiding over the proceedings. Each participant will have multiple opportunities to make submissions to a Magistrate and then receive personalised feedback on their performance. The program covers a range of common Local Court scenarios, including a mention, release application and sentence. Local Court Magistrates will give participants an overview of Court etiquette at the beginning of the day, and participants will be assisted by the Magistrates, instructors, and senior practitioners on hand throughout the day. 

Participants will gain 5.5 CPD points by taking part.