Embark on a vibrant 8-session online experience with Debatable! Law in Real Life, a self-paced, text-based course designed to refine your debating prowess while immersing you in the realities of UK crime. Young participants will hone their skills in constructing robust arguments while uncovering legal frameworks, nurturing sharper analytical skills and a stronger sense of equity through individual exploration.

Building Legal and Personal Growth

This programme empowers you to develop legal reasoning, persuasive communication, and ethical decision-making, offering a stimulating platform to delve into justice-related themes. It fosters a solid foundation in legal and moral judgement, enhances your confidence in expressing ideas—through written exercises, no verbal delivery required—and cultivates a deeper commitment to civic responsibility through personal reflection on real-world issues.

Sharpening Analytical and Problem-Solving Abilities

The course places a strong emphasis on boosting critical thinking, encouraging you to dissect arguments, evaluate evidence, and identify logical flaws, mirroring the rigorous analysis used in courts. It also promotes creative problem-solving, equipping you to tackle complex challenges with innovative solutions, while exposing you to diverse perspectives through provided materials, mentor feedback, and the ability to read peers’ shared viewpoints.

Looking Ahead to Future Opportunities

Verbal debate training will be available for events following this 8-session programme—please stay tuned for updates.

• Enhanced Legal Reasoning: Develop the expertise to interpret UK laws, such as the Theft Act 1968, to comprehend criminal elements and argue cases effectively.

• Master Debate Skills: Acquire proficiency in crafting well-organized arguments, countering opponents, and employing convincing tactics like a legal expert.

• Cultivate Critical Thinking: Hone your capacity to question premises and scrutinize evidence, reflecting judicial analysis.

• Strengthen Confidence and Communication: Gain poise in presenting ideas clearly and compellingly through written exercises.

• Embrace Fairness and Ethics: Explore justice principles within legal and discussion contexts, promoting ethical decisions through practical scenarios.

• Foster Civic Engagement: Deepen your sense of duty by engaging with justice matters through individual study and reflection, enriched by peers’ perspectives.

This adaptable, self-paced course allows you to study at your own convenience. Access it anytime—day or night—and rely on our mentors for support, advice, or constructive input via text-based responses.

Each session, you’ll receive thought-provoking self-guided tasks for individual exploration and bespoke activities suited for KS3 and KS4 levels. Thoughtful prompts will guide you in applying debate strategies and legal insights, with opportunities to reflect on fairness and creative solutions. Participants can submit their individual thoughts and viewpoints on our secure online platform, fostering a personal learning journey enriched by diverse perspectives shared in mentor feedback, course materials, and the ability to read peers’ submissions.

• Lesson 1: Foundations of Debate and What is a Crime?

  • Law Concepts: What is a Crime? — Decide what counts as criminal, civil, or just wrong.

  • Law Concepts: Actus Reus — Explore voluntary acts, omissions, and legal duties.

  • Debate Skill: Basic Argument Structure

• Lesson 2: Crafting Rebuttals and Mens Rea

  • Law Concepts: Mens Rea — Discover the difference between intention and recklessness.

  • Law Concepts: Concurrence & Causation — Link the act to the outcome and explore legal cause.

  • Debate Skill: Crafting Rebuttals

• Lesson 3: Evaluating Evidence and Homicide – Murder

  • Law Concepts: Homicide – Murder — Break down the legal meaning of murder.

  • Law Concepts: Voluntary Manslaughter — Understand how mental state affects guilt.

  • Debate Skill: Evaluating Evidence

• Lesson 4: Using Persuasive Language and Involuntary Manslaughter

  • Law Concepts: Involuntary Manslaughter — Learn how carelessness can lead to liability.

  • Law Concepts: Assault & Battery — Compare non-fatal offences and real-world examples.

  • Debate Skill: Using Persuasive Language

• Lesson 5: Spotting Logical Fallacies and ABH & GBH

  • Law Concepts: ABH & GBH — Discover what makes harm more serious in the eyes of the law.

  • Law Concepts: Theft — Identify the elements needed for a theft conviction.

  • Debate Skill: Spotting Logical Fallacies

• Lesson 6: Structuring a Full Case and Robbery & Burglary

  • Law Concepts: Robbery & Burglary — Explore how force and entry change the crime.

  • Law Concepts: Criminal Damage — Learn about arson, graffiti, and property offences.

  • Debate Skill: Structuring a Full Case

• Lesson 7: Incorporating Empathy and Public Order Offences

  • Law Concepts: Public Order Offences — Find out when protest crosses the legal line.

  • Law Concepts: Self-Defence & Duress — Argue when force or pressure can excuse a crime.

  • Debate Skill: Incorporating Empathy

• Lesson 8: Effective Summarisation and Insanity, Automatism & Intoxication

  • Law Concepts: Insanity, Automatism & Intoxication — Explore unusual defences in real-life inspired cases.

  • Debate Skill: Effective Summarisation

*All course content is subject to change based on educational needs, or student feedback. Final course structure is at the discretion of the organiser.*  

The Debatable! Law in Real Life course inspires young minds to think critically and gain a profound awareness of the world. Our innovative fusion of debate practice and UK law exploration creates a secure, motivating environment to evolve into a skilled debater and knowledgeable citizen. Join us to debate with clarity, reflect deeply, and contribute meaningfully!