Courts
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This video series gives students a virtual court‑excursion experience, introducing court security, courtroom layout, judicial roles and the importance of the rule of law. Students hear directly from judges, explore real courtrooms and see how NSW courts uphold fairness, independence and the presumption of innocence.
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This poster shows the layout of a typical courtroom and identifies key roles and seating positions. It helps students understand how the court is organised, who is involved in a hearing and how courtroom structure supports fairness, order and the rule of law.
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This poster shows the structure of Australia’s court hierarchy, from lower courts to the High Court. It helps students understand which courts hear different types of matters, how appeals progress through the system and how the hierarchy supports consistency, fairness and the rule of law.
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This poster explains the Queensland court hierarchy and jurisdiction, from the Magistrates Court through to the High Court of Australia. Designed for legal studies classrooms and public legal education, it outlines each court’s civil and criminal jurisdiction in an easy‑to‑understand visual format. Ideal for teachers, students, and anyone seeking a practical overview of Queensland’s court system.
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This poster clearly explains the New South Wales court hierarchy and jurisdictions, from the Local Court through to the High Court of Australia. Designed for legal studies classrooms and public legal education, it outlines the civil and criminal jurisdiction of NSW courts and key specialist courts in a simple, easy‑to‑understand visual format. Ideal for teachers, students and anyone seeking a practical overview of the NSW court system.
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This poster clearly explains the Victorian court hierarchy and jurisdictions, from the Magistrates’ Court through to the High Court of Australia. Designed for legal studies classrooms and public legal education, it outlines the civil and criminal jurisdiction of Victorian courts and key specialist courts in a clear, easy‑to‑understand visual format. Ideal for teachers, students and anyone seeking a practical overview of the Victorian court system.
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This poster clearly explains the Western Australian court hierarchy and jurisdictions, from the Magistrates Court through to the High Court of Australia. Designed for legal studies classrooms and public legal education, it outlines the civil and criminal jurisdiction of WA courts and key specialist courts in a clear, easy‑to‑understand visual format. Ideal for teachers, students and anyone seeking a practical overview of the Western Australian court system.
Virtual Law-Day-Out
This Virtual Law-Day-Out will give you a taste of what it is like to visit a court room.
The courts are an essential institution for upholding the rule of law. They represent the judicial arm of the separation of powers, provide an avenue for the law to be open to criticism from the public, model the presumption of innocence, and administer the law independently.
Through this virtual experience, you will
hear from a security officer about the process of entering a court and what to specifically expect when you arrive at court
hear from two different judges about their experience working in the legal system
visit a court room or two, and see who sits where and what the various roles involve
While this does not replace an in-person excursion to the court, our hope is that we might be able to give you a taste of how the rule of law is being upheld in the NSW Court system.
What is a Law Day Out?
Watching the law in action helps students value and trust the legal system and appreciate how the rule of law is upheld in Australia.
What is the rule of law?
The rule of law is a concept that comes from the Magna Carta: that all people, including the government should be ruled by the law, be willing to live by its expectations, and obey it.
Introduction to the Courts
This Virtual Law Day Out takes you around the King Street Courts and Downing Centre in the city of Sydney.
The Downing Centre holds both the Local and District Criminal Courts. The King Street Court is part of the Supreme Court and hears serious criminal trials.
Our Law Day Out Facilitators, Emily and Genevieve, welcome you to the courts.
Hear from a Sheriff’s Officer about security in the courts.
Meet the Judiciary
The opportunity to chat and ask questions to a judicial officer has a profoundly positive impact on students and their teachers.
When students come on our Law Day Out excursion to the courts, they have a personal and life changing interaction with a judge. Students are given the opportunity to chat with a judicial officer and to hear about the various aspects of their work and the challenges of trial process, sentencing, law reform, the role of juries and judicial discretion. At times, the Judge or Magistrate has even stopped proceedings to explain what is happening in the case. Students are often awestruck and walk out of the courts with a newfound respect for the judiciary and the legal system.
We are very grateful to those Judges and Magistrates who generously speak to school students. In particular, we would like to thank Hon Bellew and Hon Culver for their support and tireless work encouraging Australian school students to love and follow the law.
Meet Hon Justice Bellew of the Supreme Court of NSW as he talks about the rule of law, bail, sentencing and his path to become a Justice in the Supreme Court.
Meet Hon Judge Culver of the District Court of NSW as she talks about how she became a Judge, the difference between the Local and District Court and advice to law students. In a second video, Her Honour talks about the media, sentencing and jury trials.
Explore the court room
The layout of the Courtroom has been well thought out over the centuries and reflects the bedrock values that underpin the Magna Carta, judiciary and the rule of law.
Come on a tour around a court room with your guides Hon Bellew and Hon Culver.
Made possible through the support of donors and partners.
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