The facility includes the first mock courtroom to be built on a college campus in the South of England, a classroom, and large-scale legal art murals. Attending the launch were the many companies who had volunteered their time, skills and funds to make the new learning environment possible.
Approximately 18 months ago, Rowena Mudge, Course Manager for Law at Huish wrote to 74 organisations to share her vision for a Huish Law School.
Rowena shares “It is the department’s vision to be the centre of choice for law for young people and we aim to achieve this by being hard-working, honest and acting with integrity”.
The Huish Law School has been established to offer students an educational ‘experience’ rather than just a qualification. Students are provided with a range of enrichment, including The Law Society (sponsored by Davitt Jones Bould), mooting competitions, and opportunities such as the Law Conference, where they can interact directly with professionals.
This year’s conference included talks and workshops by a District Judge, Avon and Somerset Police Dog Unit, Exeter City Council, Davitt Jones Bould, NCA, The University of Law and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Wickes was the first company to respond to Row’s letter, offering a flooring donation which kickstarted the mock courtroom project.
MP Rebecca Pow then kindly approached the Minister for Justice, and many meetings were set in motion. The HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) and Equans saw the department’s passion, and everything began to get underway.
Tom Spalding, Deputy Director of Facilities Management and Technical Services at HMCTS, shared: “This initiative demonstrated HMCTS’ commitment to sustainability while providing law students with an authentic environment for their practical legal education. Hearing the students’ first-hand accounts of the positive benefits this outstanding new facility is delivering was enlightening and Equans should be commended for their remarkable efforts and their commitment to corporate and social responsibility.”




Jacob Snellings, Sector Director of Equans, shared: “At Equans we have 2 volunteering days a year per employee as part of our commitment to social value and we were really pleased to be able to harness this whilst aligning with the objectives of one of our accounts; HM Courts and Tribunals Service. We hope that providing this mock courtroom will attract young people in the early development of their career journeys into all aspects of what HMCTS do”.
They did this by leveraging their supply chain for logistics, arranging for Collins Joinery & Building Contractors Ltd to deliver furniture donated by HMCTS from London.
They also brought in specialist trades; RC Services Ltd supplied flooring and paint, Sodexo and Jonathan Carey Design Ltd supplied seating and furniture, and Carman Contracting Ltd provided their services, installing lighting, panelling and a dais. They also replaced the ceiling and set up a live camera feed.
James Selwood, Director at Carman Contracting shared “We are proud to have partnered with Equans and James Embleton from Travis Perkins for this fantastic project for Richard Huish College. The replica courtroom is a new and innovative method of creating a useful learning environment for Huish Law School’s students, and we are pleased to have been involved in creating a space that will improve their studies. It’s rewarding to see what this project means for the next generation of legal professionals.”
Met by the goodwill of organisations, businesses and the Huish community, Rowena responded: “Equans have been exceptional and the whole project is a real testimony to the power of collaboration and community interest”.
This new environment will allow students to be fully immersed in the law and to link it to real life.
Huish student, Isabella shared: “As a Law student, the courtroom, the new graphic displays, mooting, the Law Society, all of it, is just so inspiring. It is clear how valuable it is to learn law in an environment that replicates the career I want to pursue. With A Levels looming ever closer, it’s easy to become demotivated or to feel overwhelmed, but every time I enter the courtroom it reminds me that what I do now will lead to the career and future I want to have. It motivates me to keep working hard so that one day I’ll be walking into one of these but for real”.
At the launch, speeches were made by Huish staff, Equans, the Huish Law Society presidents, Huish Mooters and A Level Law students, before the ribbon was cut by MP Gideon Amos.


The courtroom has provided a spectacular backdrop for the future of the Huish Law School. The department’s vision is to continue to offer high-quality education and remain in the top 10% of the country for outcomes.
Furthermore, Huish wishes to become a centre for good practice, offering more enrichment and continuing to welcome visitors from other colleges to share in professional development. Current enrichments include Huish Mooting and the Huish Law Society.
The Huish Law Society provides a structured and professional environment to explore Law beyond the curriculum. It is a student-led enrichment with a committee consisting of a President and Vice President from both year groups and a Treasurer, Secretary, and Social Secretary. Over 50 students got involved in the voting process for electing committee members earlier this academic year.
You can find out more about Huish Law School at the college’s upcoming open event on Wednesday 30th April.



