Imagine a science fiction movie like The Avengers with the epic battles between superheroes and aliens and the massive damage done to a city and its buildings in the process.
What if there was a law which made the superheroes responsible for the damage caused?
This was the scenario played out in a mock trial in UTS Law’s Moot Court as part of the ‘Experience UTS’ day’ for senior high school students.
It focussed on an alleged superhero criminally charged with the damage caused when he battled an alien in an urban barber shop.
The charge was part of the fictional ‘Make Australia Safe Again’ Legislation.
The scenario clearly referenced a number of Science Fiction movies and the Year 11 and 12 students had some fun with the subject matter during the ‘trial’.
Working from the statement of facts, the Crown attempted to prove that the accused, called ‘Steve’ was a superhero because he displayed great strength in lifting and throwing a barber’s chair which had been bolted to the floor.
The Defence countered with the argument that Steve had two years of military training and was simply just young and fit.
Neither side made much out of the fact that Steve was ‘wearing blue and white lycra and carrying a shield.’
Senior UTS Law students acted as facilitators to help the school students prepare and answer their questions.
4th year Law and Medical Science student, Louisa Dimarco, says the event gives school students the opportunity to gain an insight into aspects of the legal profession as well as a chance to explore some of the competitions UTS Law offers.
I came to this event when I was still in high school and it was one of the reasons why I was motivated to enrol in Law here. It’s about learning new skills, networking and engaging in the social aspect of it all.
Louisa now runs the negotiation competitions in the Law Faculty as well as participating as a judge and a competitor both internally and in intervarsity events.
Law academics, Stuart Lowe and Catherine Nguyen ‘judged’ the case and found the accused Not Guilty.
They describe the event as invaluable for prospective students
It puts them in direct contact with academics and current students and gives them a practical taste of the variety of subjects and activities within the Law Degree at UTS.