BRADFORD’S solicitors and judges of tomorrow have taken their first steps towards a legal career on a course run by a city judge.

Sixth-form students from schools across the Bradford district attended the Student Pre University Court Exposure (Spruce) course to learn more about the legal profession.

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

During this year’s three-day course, which started yesterday, students will learn about criminal, business and family law and diversity. They will also attend a session at Bradford Crown Court today.

This year’s course includes 37 students, all aged 17, from schools including Bingley Grammar and Beckfoot.

It has been endorsed by Andrew Langdon QC, chairman of the Bar Council of England and Wales, and Robert Bourns, president of the Law Society of England and Wales.

Judge Rose said: “Our numbers are up from 22 students in 2015 to 50 applicants this year. The numbers have expanded.

“The students have come here to learn and ask questions and are not just coming here to sit there and put up with it.

“This course gives them a taste of what it is like.

“We can’t teach them everything, but we can give them the grounds for a career in law.”

A number of solicitors, lawyers, barristers and legal officials including Dr Kathryn Dutton, the acting head of law school at the University of Bradford and Anne Blakey, commercial lawyer with Morrisons, will give talks at the event.

Participating students said the course would benefit their pursuit of a career in the legal profession.

Robin Raedcher, from Bingley Grammar School, said: “I’m looking to have a career in law. I would like to go into corporate law.

“The course is good because it tells you about the different routes and pathways you can go down and the different areas of the legal profession.”

Yasmin Ali, of Beckfoot School, said: “This is a good course because it gives you a chance to get to know more about law.”

Hamza Arrif, also of Beckfoot School, added: “I’m interested in a career in law and doing it at university. I just want to see how it all works.”