In a court case that will feature more spells than adjournments, the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will go on trial at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s annual Imaginarium and Open Day on Sunday 9 August 2015.

Aspiring lawyers from USC’s Law School will call on characters from JK Rowling’s famous Harry Potter series as witnesses in a fun mock trial as part of Imaginarium – an event open to the entire community that encourages people to consider a world of possibilities.
 
The mock trial will have a judge and jury, counsel for the prosecution and defence, two instructing solicitors, a bailiff and witnesses. It will be presented by USC Law Students Association members and actors from the USC-based Performing Arts Kollective.

Association president David Knobel said the case would involve student Draco Malfoy suing Hogwarts for damages for post-traumatic stress caused by seeing the evil Lord Voldemort kill a unicorn.

“I think it will be a good indication of the way a civil trial would be run,” he said. “But there will be some creative licence in the way we do it, because a jury would not be required for a civil trial like this.”

Academics from USC’s Law School as well as from many other study disciplines at the University will be available to chat one-on-one with prospective students at Imaginarium from 10am to 2pm.

The event will feature food and entertainment, fun activities for all ages, plenty of prizes – including a trip to either Malaysia, Cambodia or Tonga – and the opportunity to find out about USC’s wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate study programs.

Among the entertainment line-up will be crowd-pleasing crooner Darren Percival and young Coast duo Hoo8Hoo.

Visitors will also be able to try flying the perfect paper plane, wander through a giant maze, step inside a giant bubble, try rock climbing on free-standing climbing walls, or – if they require further Harry Potter magic – watch a fast-paced game of Quidditch.

— Terry Walsh