Law Courts

This might seem like a strange place to Unilocal,but going to watch a court case at the Law Courts is a really interesting way to spend a morning or afternoon in Brisbane. Now I’m not touting this as entertainment as the cases you see are often of a very serious nature, but if you have any interest in the workings of the law or functioning of society, go along. Not all cases are open to the public, but all you have to do is go up to the front desk when you first walk in and find out what’s on. It’s a bit hit and miss – some days it might be all really boring stuff, but on other days you could get lucky and wander in on a murder case.
Be mindful that the general atmosphere there is quite somber and there are a few rules of etiquette to observe. Firstly, dress respectfully. Try to wear a decent pair of shoes and modest clothing. Secondly, you may enter a court room at any time, but you must nod/​bow to the judge upon entering and make your way quietly and directly to a seat. Thirdly, make sure your mobile phone is on silent! Lastly, be mindful when leaving the courtroom that you don’t go talking loudly about the case as you don’t know who might be within ear shot, eg. Friends or relatives of someone involved.
I think this is something that everyone should do at least once, a) because it’s interesting and b) it’s good to know how these things work, as it’s not quite how it looks in the movies!