1st visit!

Today we went to our first visit, we went to the Westminster Magistrates Court. Here we got to sit in on actual cases to get a better understanding on how the justice study is over here. It was very fascinating to see that the defendant does not sit next to their attorney like they do in the states, rather they are placed in what I would consider a glass box  and then locked in there until their case is dismissed. The two court rooms I got to sit in on both had Lay Magistrate judges, which is where there are three volunteers that have training that make the ruling decisions over the case. Before they make a decision they have to confront the legal advisor to  make that it is legal.

Us getting ready to leave the hotel and head to our visit

Leaving the the court house it was raining outside so we got to use our brollies (umbrellas) for the first time.

Our hotel is the largest hotel in the UK., it is the size of what we would consider a shopping mall. Although it is huge the rooms are not! Here is a picture of what I will be living in for the next 12 days. 

The hotel its self is a huge culture shock. Most rooms have a baday, although mine did not. Some people in our group were not quite sure what they were at first. The bed sizes reminded me of the beds in the dorms. 

The View of our hotel outside our window!