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The Judicial Appointments Commission A presentation for teachers, lecturers and law students. The JAC.
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The Judicial Appointments CommissionA 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.“
