Criminal Trial Simulation at WSB University in Gliwice

A criminal trial simulation involving Law students from the 6th and 8th semesters took place at WSB University in Gliwice. The event was an important element of the practical education of future lawyers and allowed students to apply their theoretical knowledge in conditions closely resembling real court proceedings.

The event was officially opened by Dr. Grzegorz Matuszek, Vice-Dean for Education, and Dr. Aleksandra Klimek-Lakomy, Attorney-at-Law, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at WSB University in Dąbrowa Górnicza, responsible, among others, for the Law programme. In their speeches, they emphasized the importance of practical forms of education in preparing students for legal professions and the role of simulation-based experiences in developing professional competencies.

During the event, students assumed the roles of judge, prosecutor, defence counsel, defendant, witnesses, and court clerk. They recreated the course of criminal proceedings in accordance with the applicable provisions of criminal procedure law, while developing their legal argumentation skills, the ability to analyse evidence, and courtroom presentation skills.

The simulation was also observed by secondary school students who, as members of the audience, had the opportunity to see how criminal proceedings unfold in practice. For them, it was a valuable lesson in legal education and an opportunity to gain a closer understanding of the nature of legal studies at WSB University.

The case examined during the simulation concerned Piotr Stanisz, who was accused of attempting to steal money using a stolen payment card belonging to the injured party, Nina Pawlak. According to the facts of the case, after stealing the card, the defendant attempted several times to use it for payments in local shops. However, the transactions were not completed because the card owner had blocked the card beforehand. The defendant was also charged with driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. This offence was alleged to have been committed under recidivist conditions, as he had previously been lawfully convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The simulation enabled students to follow all stages of criminal proceedings—from the filing of the indictment, through the evidentiary phase and witness examinations, to the delivery of closing arguments and the issuance of a verdict. The event was met with strong engagement from participants and provided valuable experience in preparing students for future careers in the legal profession

Dr. Jacek Kiera, Attorney-at-Law and lecturer at WSB University, was responsible for preparing the case study and providing substantive supervision over the course of the simulation. He ensured that the proceedings were conducted correctly and supported students in performing their respective procedural roles.

The criminal trial simulation was another initiative demonstrating that WSB University places strong emphasis on modern and practical teaching methods that enable students to gain the experience necessary for their future professional careers.