Vocalise

Welcome to Vocalise! We are a Gray’s Inn student-led prison debating initiative open to Members of all Inns.

Applications to become a Vocalise Mentor 2026-2027 will open in November 2026.

A unique volunteering opportunity

At a time when prison education departments are overstretched and under-resourced, Vocalise mentors can make a real difference to prison inmates through honing and sharing their public speaking skills.

For the first time, somebody is really listening to what I’m saying.

Vocalise was founded in 2010 by two student members of the Inn, Alex Just and Florence Iveson, inspired by a longstanding scheme at Cornell University. Our award-winning scheme is the first of its kind in the UK.

Vocalise harnesses the enthusiasm of current law students to bring the benefits of debate training to prison inmates across London. Aspiring barristers are trained as debate mentors over the Michaelmas (Autumn) term.

It’s great that we get a chance to really challenge ourselves.

In past years, we have partnered with HMP Pentonville, HMP Brixton, HMP Downview, HMP Thameside, YOI ISIS, HMP Feltham and HMP Wandsworth.

• Why apply?

  Why apply?

  Vocalise offers a lot to anyone wanting to become a barrister, including:

  • Debating and advocacy skills: Even if you’ve tried mooting, debating is a very different skillset and style of speaking that can complement and develop your advocacy in another area.
  • Interview material: Going into prisons and interacted with prisoners is something that can really interest both criminal bar sets and sets generally in your pupillage interviews.
  • Learning opportunities: A huge part of succeeding at the Bar is having a real interest in what you do and who you work with. For anyone interested in criminal justice reform and related topics, this is a great way to see the system up close.
  • Teaching skills: Teaching is harder than most people think, and overlaps with a lot of what barristers need to do – breaking down concepts to explain to others concisely and simply.
  • Mock pupillage interviews: We arrange mock pupillage interviews as a thank you for all our volunteers, conducted by a range of barristers and pupils at both criminal and civil sets.

   

  Even more importantly than what it can do for you, this is also an incredible opportunity to make a difference. Prison isn’t normally an environment where people stop and take the time to listen. Helping prison inmates develop their advocacy skills and confidence helps them with life inside and after prison.

• Who are we looking for?

  Applications will only be accepted from students who have joined an Inn and have commenced either the GDL or the Bar Course.

  Because we teach you the debating skills, we don’t necessarily need you to have had any prior debating or mooting experience –although it can be useful. Instead, we look for:

  • Genuine interest in the criminal justice system. This doesn’t mean you have to be committed to the criminal bar.
  • Commitment. Prison teaching won’t always go to plan. Lessons can be rearranged at short notice due to security issues, and take a lot of time in any case. We need to know you’ll be there regardless.
  • People skills. We can teach you to teach, but it really helps for us to know that you like working with other people and feel comfortable speaking in front of a room.

   

• Training to become a debate mentor

  If accepted onto the Vocalise programme, you will need to attend one class per week for six weeks, starting in early December. Classes are an hour long, and held in person at Gray’s Inn or online.

  These lessons will teach you two things:

  1. How to do debate formally – the rules, format, advocacy skills, and thinking on your feet.
  2. How to teach others; in particular, how to teach in a prison environment.

  You will be coached in these skills by our directors, all of whom were mentors in the past and know the process well.

  After your six training sessions, you will sit an exam called ‘bootcamp’, where you will teach a group of students roleplaying a prison class. You must pass bootcamp before teaching prison classes.

• Teaching debating and advocacy skills in prisons

  From February onwards, you will be asked to sign up to teach at least one ‘cycle’; a period of four+ weeks in which you will teach once per week. Our preference is for mentors to complete a full cycle in the same prison, to ensure continuity for the prison-students.

  Classes will always be on a weekday, and therefore be aware that this can be a significant time commitment. Each class will last roughly three hours, although – depending on security – you can be at the prison site for longer.

  All of our prisons are based in London, and approximately no more than around an hour’s commute from Gray’s Inn. Unfortunately, we do not have the budget to provide travel expenses, so trips to prisons will be at your own expense.