Almost 500 Transition Year students have taken part in this year's National Mock Trials Competition.

The event, organised by the group Public Access to Law, gives students the opportunity to get a taste of a career in law.

The most senior criminal Judge in the country, Mr Justice Paul Carney opened the competition today, which featured 24 schools from across the country.

Four schools have been selected to take part in the National finals next week, including St Louis' in Rathmines.