BUDDING legal students have made a name for themselves by winning a national competition.

Students from Ranelagh School won the national Mock Trial competition at a Birmingham court.

The students were given different roles in a trial scenario, and were told to prepare for a mock trial, for which they would use the knowledge they had gained to act out the trial situation.

The team came second in the regional finals and earned a place in the Nationals, which were held on June 16 in Birmingham.

The national finals saw 16 teams in the country compete for the ultimate prize, with Ranelagh coming out on top.

The competition saw students from up and down the country competing in a trial situation, and Ranelagh students came out on top in both of their trials.

Lara Gell and Charlotte Menon (Year 8) said:“Mock Trial has opened my eyes to new jobs, has been a great learning opportunity and has helped me gain confidence."

Caitlin Elliott (Year 9) said: “Mock Trial has been an amazing experience that’s given me a new-found confidence and love for law”

Lara Gell and Charlotte Menon (Year 8) said “We enjoyed mixing with Year 9s and found some new friends. It was a really supportive environment and we felt that we all had each others backs in the court room”