Ambassadors from our Sussex region took part in an inspiring visit to the Employment Tribunal Service in Croydon. Joined by Salma, Khushi and Ocean from our Ambassador Advisory Group, the girls spent the day learning about the role of employment judges, observing live hearings, and finding out more about the many career paths available in law. It was an eye-opening and empowering experience – read on to hear what everyone thought of this great trip!

---

Learning about Employment Tribunals

The day began with a warm welcome at Montague Court in West Croydon, where the group learned about the work of employment judges, who handle workplace disputes like unfair dismissal and discrimination. They discovered that the tribunal system is quite different from criminal law, focusing instead on resolving issues between employees and employers.

Inside the tribunal, the Ambassadors were split into smaller groups to observe live hearings, offering a real-time view of how cases are presented and decided. Tribunal judges and clerks explained their roles and answered questions, giving the students a deeper understanding of the tribunal process.

The event also featured a Q&A session, where young people could ask questions about careers in the legal field. It was an eye-opening experience, showing that law offers a range of career paths, from judges to clerks to legal officers, all working together to ensure fair proceedings.

This day provided young people with an insight into the legal world and explored career opportunities within the tribunal system.

What young people thought of the day:

Lucy Kyle, The Girls' Network Network Manager (Sussex), who worked with the school’s new Ambassadors, said:

It was great that mentees who recently completed the mentoring programme and were welcomed into the Ambassador Community had the opportunity to be part of the day.

Teachers on the trip with The Girls’ Network said:

Judge Kathryn Ramsden was one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever heard speak about their careers and the girls thought she was great too. She spoke with so much passion – and compassion – and she really was just an incredible ambassador for the field of law.

Thanks so much to Judge Kathryn Ramsden, and the whole Girls' Network and tribunal teams for organising today for our girls. It was an incredibly positive, interesting and inspiring day and it was lovely to hear the girls talking about the experience all the way back to Brighton.

---

Enrichment experiences like this are a vital part of our Ambassador Community, giving young people real-world insights that build their understanding of the workplace, boost their confidence, and expand their ambitions. Opportunities to meet professionals, ask questions, and see different careers in action are so valuable. We are incredibly grateful to our teacher liaisons and the staff at the Tribunal Service for helping to make this inspiring day possible.