Sutton Trust Summer School 2025

Aspiring legal minds from across the UK came to Edinburgh Law School to experience life as a university student and learn more about the law.

The Sutton Trust Summer School brings together S5 (Scotland), Year 12 (England & Wales), and Year 13 (Northern Ireland) to find out what it is like to be a student at the UK’s top universities. The summer school is designed to support high achieving student from disadvantage backgrounds. 

The theme of this year’s law academic sessions was human rights law. Through a blend of lectures, workshops and practical exercises running across three days, the sessions demonstrated the intersectionality of different areas of law and how it impacts aspects of everyday life.

Day One: Grounding in Human Rights and Mental Health Law

Participants began with an introduction to Human Rights, led by Dr Susanna MacDonald-Mulvihil, examining how human rights principles shape various areas of law, from general equality to environmental access. The second-half of session introduced the students to a mock case they’d be mooting at the end of the week, which gave students hands-on experience in case analysis, legal reasoning and presentation.

In the afternoon, Mr Andrew Farrer and recent graduate, Isla Graham, introduced Mental Health Law, offering insights to a third-year university module. Topics included legal definitions of capacity and consent, the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act, and relevant human rights provisions. The landmark case P v Cheshire West sparked debate on liberty, autonomy, and state responsibility.

Day Two: Medical Ethics and Environmental Rights

The second day delved into Medical Law and Ethics. Led by Dr Murray Earle, the session explored legal duties through foundational cases like Donoghue v Stevenson. Students then worked through legal reasoning on confidentiality, duty of care, and negligence, reflecting on current ethical dilemmas in medicine and public health.

In the afternoon, Professor James Harrison introduced students to the "greening" of human rights. Through case studies such as Lopez Ostra v Spain and Jugheli v Georgia, students discovered how environmental degradation can infringe upon human rights. The students also considered whether rights should be restricted to humans.  In an imaginative exercise, students drafted charters for UK natural entities, such as Loch Ness and red squirrels, arguing for their recognition as legal persons, demonstrating how law can adapt to modern environmental challenges.

Day Three: Inside the Legal Profession

On the final day, students toured the prestigious Faculty of Advocates and The Advocates Library, gaining a rare look inside the Scottish legal system. The tour was then followed by a Q&A session with Sheana Campbell, who answered the students’ questions about life as an Advocate, routes to a career at the Bar, and gave top tips for their upcoming moot. In the afternoon, students donned robes and took part in a moot court session judged by Dr Timothy Jacob-Owens and current law student, Ruth Ndjoba-Sieland. Drawing on the week’s learning, participants presented oral arguments on a case, developing confidence and public speaking skills in a supportive environment.

Thank you to all staff, students, alumni and those from the Faculty of Advocates who supported this year’s Sutton Trust Summer School. 

Read more about the University of Edinburgh’s Sutton Trust Summer School programme

This article was co-written by Alex Henderson, who was interning at the University of Edinburgh as part of University’s partnership with Career Ready programme [external website].