Another school round for YFIL

In October, Your Future in Law (YFIL) returned for the third consecutive year, inspiring school pupils to become the next generation of great legal minds. YFIL is a project run by the Government Legal Service for Scotland, in conjunction with the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service and the Scottish Parliament. It aims to promote a career in Government law for those from state schools, which are generally underrepresented in the legal profession in Scotland.

YFIL 2015 saw 23 pupils, mainly from Edinburgh, learn about the need for law, the legislative process, the importance of human rights and how the law is applied in a criminal trial. At the Scottish Parliament, the pupils conducted a mock stage 1 parliamentary evidence-taking session on a fictitious bill aimed at tackling cyberbullying. Pupils then took part in a mock criminal trial, which saw one offender prosecuted under this legislation in a courtroom in the Court of Session.

Other highlights included use of the Judicial Institute for Scotland, with an address from Sheriff Duff (Director of the Institute), a special appearance from Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, and a closing address by the Solicitor General for Scotland, Lesley Thomson QC.

The YFIL committee is grateful to the University of Edinburgh’s Pathways to the Professions for supporting YFIL and giving helpful advice to pupils on university applications. The importance of this event is underlined by the encouraging feedback received from pupils.

One participant said: “It was a very worthwhile and fulfilling experience and I am very grateful and privileged to have taken part.”