Daniel Alex, President of the William Adams Law & Debate Society and Deputy School Captain at Haberdashers’ Adams
On Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th June, five of us from Adams and five peers from Abraham Darby travelled to London, immersing ourselves in the world of law. This opportunity was fully funded and organised by the Haberdashers’ Company through the Haberdashers’ Advantage Programme, for which we are incredibly grateful.
Our trip began with a workshop at the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law, where we explored Lord Bingham’s eight principles. We focused on the principle that the law must apply equally to all, apart from “objective differences”. Using the example of York’s anti-terrorism bollards – which initially prevented disabled blue badge holders from accessing the city centre – we concluded that fairness sometimes requires making exceptions for differences such as disability. This is the essence of equity.
The next day, we visited the Old Bailey to discover its rich history, including the Blitz damage commemorated by a shard of glass in the wall and Bushell’s Case which established jury independence in 1670. Touring the historic courtrooms also revealed how their design reflects justice, authority and public scrutiny.
We then watched two live trials. The first was a joint-enterprise Clapham murder trial where the prosecution argued that a gang’s diss tracks had provoked a rival gang into carrying out a fatal retaliatory shooting. This demonstrated how social media content can become significant courtroom evidence. The second case involved a former police sergeant accused of assault, misconduct and perverting the course of justice, highlighting the importance of accountability and evidence in maintaining public trust.
Throughout the trip, we had the unique opportunity to meet Haberdashers with backgrounds in law. This included Her Honour Judge Rebecca Trowler KC, who presided over the gang violence case we witnessed at the Old Bailey and spoke to us before proceedings, offering a rare first-hand perspective. Over lunch at Haberdashers’ Hall, we also networked with solicitors from a range of practice areas. Their generosity in sharing their experiences and advice gave us an invaluable insight into the many pathways within the legal profession.
After an eventful trip, we shared everything we learned in a presentation at our school for the William Adams Law & Debate Society. Founded in 1909, our Debate Society is the oldest society at Haberdashers’ Adams; this year, we expanded it to encompass law.
The society has mirrored the courtroom drama of the Old Bailey, transforming our Big School Library into a courtroom for our inaugural mock trial. Our assistant headteacher, Mr Skeate, stood accused of stealing a Greggs steak bake. The Upper Sixth prosecuted, the Lower Sixth defended, and following sharp performances from both sides, the Lower School jury found him not guilty.
Our second mock trial, in collaboration with the Quibell History Society, was altogether grander in scope. Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of the French, stood accused of two breaches of the United Nations Charter: waging wars of aggression and repressing human rights. After hearing the arguments from both sides, the jury returned a guilty verdict.
Overall, we truly appreciate everyone who made all of this possible, particularly Naomi Barker, Mrs Wilson and Mr Skeate for organising such a wonderful trip. We also thank Mrs Frenzel and outgoing Debate Captain Tom Chapman for their support of the William Adams Society. We look forward to building on these experiences, carrying the inspiration from two days in London into all that lies ahead.
