THE solicitors and barristers of the future were given an insight into the legal profession at an innovative course in Bradford.

Sixth form students at nine schools across West Yorkshire attended the Student Pre University Court Exposure (Spruce) course to learn more about the legal profession and possibly help them forge a career.

The course is the first of its kind in the country and is the brainchild of Judge Jonathan Rose, who sits at Bradford Crown Court.

Schools in the Bradford district taking part included Beckfoot School, Dixons City Academy, Queensbury School and Bradford Grammar School.

During the three-day course, held at the Crown Court, the students learned about criminal law and equality and diversity.

A number of solicitors, lawyers, barristers and legal officials including Dr Jessica Guth, head of law school at the University of Bradford and Anne Blakey, commercial lawyer with Morrisons gave talks to the group.

The students will also attend a session at Bradford Crown Court today.

If this initial course is a success, it is hoped it will become an annual event in Bradford and even be rolled out to other areas of the country.

Judge Rose, who also gave the lectures, said: "It is the first course of its type to be run in the country.

"These students are here voluntarily. We have had a great response to the course.

"I know the medical profession has held similar courses but there has never been one in the legal profession before.

"I'm hoping to repeat it in future years. I hope we can spread it out to other areas of the country, if this is a success."

Students, all aged 17, said it gave them a valuable insight into the legal profession.

Justice Lodge, who is studying law as one of his four AS levels at Queensbury School, said: "I want to be a barrister.

"This is a crash course in it really. It's a good course and it's interesting to find out things that I mostly didn't know about."

Fellow Queensbury School student Aishah Amin, 17, who is also studying law as one of her four AS levels, said: "It's almost like a once-in-a-lifetime course.

"I don't know if I want to be a solicitor or a barrister, so this course will help me make up my mind."

Spruce has been backed by the chairman of the Bar Council, Alistair MacDonald QC and Andrew Caplen, president of the Law Society, who both wrote letters in the course programme.

The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Baron Thomas of Cwmgiedd, also wrote: "This is an impressive programme and I am delighted to see such an innovative course being developed for young people.

"I am grateful to Judge Rose and his colleagues for leading on its inception, a blueprint, I trust for many more of its kind."