A suggestion for the examining body of NCTJ law

I was looking over a law paper today and I have a suggestion for the examining board. I think they need to use a different language if they really want to capture 'the kids' interest in learning law.

Here is the original question as I read it.

And here is how I think the question should be put to engage students, with an appropriate answer.

10.          You are the gruff, middle-aged editor of a struggling Midlands newspaper. Your wife left you last week and took half the money. It’s a rough business and a rougher city. The revolver you keep next to your heart is your second best friend and only your third most deadly. You can see the city through the half closed blinds of your office. What a rotten town. The paper puts out every piece of smut that goes on out there and you lost your faith in all that’s good in the world long ago. You’ve overlooked the publishing of every dirty crime and interviewed every man who ever got blood on their hands. Every time you open your drawer there is a seductive chink of glass and slosh of whisky inside. Yeah, it’s a rotten town, and a rotten business… but as long as you're around there’ll at least be good journalism. The spirit of freedom.

What’s the word today? Some suited-up broad is in hot water, accused of murdering her husband. She wouldn't be the first dollface to put an end to her man’s beatings with a clothes-iron lobotomy. You just got word from Jefferson that she’s been found guilty. Damn shame. Pretty girl, she won’t do well in the slammer.

The phone rings. You pick it up and answer in a hard-boiled manner that’s usually enough to get rid of the coo-koos who call the office. “Ya’ whadd’ya want?”

“Well hey there, Mr Editor,” says that greasy weasel.

“Ward Weinstein. I thought I told you never to call me again.”

“Yeah, well, I gotta listening problem. You hear about that broad sent down for murder? Well, I got some great pictures for ‘ya.”

You don’t like the sound of this. “Whadd’ya mean?”

“I managed to grab a few quick snaps of her on the stand with my phone. Great pics, editor. I tell ‘ya, she’s got a swell set a cans and she’s crying like dames do in the box. Not only that, one of the main witnesses was smiling all the way down the corridor, all smug and greasy, and I managed to snap that too. It’s front page stuff I tell ‘ya. You can have ‘em for 20 bucks and you don’t mention where you got ‘em, see?”

What do you do, big guy?
 
Answer.               I’d slam my fist on the desk and say “Now you listen here, you slimy punk! Don’t you know the law? Section 41 of the criminal justice and evidence act states that it is illegal to take or attempt to take, or make or attempt to make any sketch or portrait of any person in any court, its buildings or its precincts, or of any person entering or leaving a court or its building, whether it’s the front door or the can, see? Further, the publication of any such photograph, sketch or portrait is prohibited as an offence in itself! I’ll give ‘ya, the act does not define what ‘precincts’ are, and this has caused practical difficulties in interpretation, but I can tell ‘ya that what you’re saying will send us both to jail! You rotten weasel! You crooked pig! I oughta’ give you a good shiner! There’s plenty of room in Glen Parva and you wouldn’t even make it as far as the showers in there! You ever call here again I’ll palm you off on the pigs without a second thought!” With that I’d slam the phone down and light a cigarette. Yep. What a rotten business.