The Judicial Appointments Commission A presentation for teachers, lecturers and law students

The JAC The Judicial Appointments Commission is a public body responsible for making recommendations to the Lord Chancellor for the appointment of judges in England and Wales and for some tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland It was created by the 2005 Constitutional Reform Act It makes about 750 recommendations a year

Planning a judicial career An appointment as a Judge is not necessarily at the end of a career as a lawyer It can be part of a long career in the law and can begin quite early especially in a part time capacity As a minimum you need 5 or 7 years post-qualification experience (PQE) depending on the post in question. Most people applying to be a Judge, however, have many more years experience than this You need to be a solicitor, barrister, or for some posts Fellow of Chartered Institute of Legal Executives or have the equivalent relevant legal experience

Am I ready? It is never too early to consider being a judge Competition is tough You need to ensure you are fully and carefully prepared Ask yourself and others if you are ready

Relevant experience includes performing judicial functions in a court or tribunal; acting as an arbitrator; practice or employment as a lawyer; advising on the application of the law; assisting persons involved in proceedings; acting as mediator to resolve issues; drafting documents to affect persons’ rights or obligations; teaching or researching law; any activity broadly similar in nature to above activities.

Age There is no upper or lower age limit to become a judge apart from the statutory retirement age of 70. The age at which someone is appointed to a position must allow for a reasonable length of service before retirement, usually five years.

Nationality In order to qualify for a post, you must be a citizen of: the United Kingdom another Commonwealth country the Republic of Ireland.

Where do judges work Judges sit in the: First-tier Tribunal Upper Tribunal Magistrates’ Court County Court Crown Court High Court Court of Appeal Supreme Court sitting in one or more of 37 specialist tribunals

Different types of appointment Fee Paid – This is a part-time Judge sitting for between 15 to 30 days a year while continuing to practice as a lawyer the rest of the time Salaried – This is a full-time Judge. Part-time working in some salaried roles is available The convention is that you cannot to return to practice once appointed as a salaried judge so fee-paid positions are an excellent opportunity to ‘try it out.’ Being a judge isn’t for everyone!

Planning a Career in the Law? Don’t rule out an appointment as a judge Consider and plan early for it Ensure you obtain relevant experience to keep all options open Seek advice from professional bodies Take time to learn about the role and jurisdiction you are interested in The competition is tough, so only apply when you believe yourself to be ready

What some of our candidates said: Olufemi Oluleye, Fee-paid Judge, First-tier Tribunal, Social Entitlement Chamber : "I started planning my move to become a judge three years ago.” Ian Ashley Smith, Deputy District Judge (Civil) : "The key to a successful application for judicial office is preparation.” Hazel Oliver, Fee-paid Employment Judge: “Don't be scared to apply to become a judge, whatever your background - if you're interested, go for it.“

jac.judiciary.gov.uk