Your email address will not be published. I had five trials, but it was shambolic, and only two were kind of done. Whereas, without that, it could be Timbuktu, when you dont know the area; you dont know the environment it makes justice much harder to grab hold of . DeSantis won't say he's running. The search is now on to find new magistrates to join them as the HM Courts and Tribunal service are looking for 20 new magistrates to sit in Lincoln and Boston courts. Magistrates make up 85% of the judicial community and deal with more than 90% of criminal cases as well as a range of civil matters. Students can directly give the judicial service exam after graduation to become a member of the subordinate judiciary. 806 8067 22, Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Lay magistrates advantages and disadvantages, Advantages and Disadvantages of Lay people, Advantages & Disadvantages of Magistrates, Advantages and Disadvantages of Trial in the Crown Court, See all The Criminal courts and lay people resources , AQA Law Unit 1 Predictions (17th May PM) , Unofficial mark scheme for aqa as law unit 1 , AQA Law Unit 1 (FRI 23/05/14) - Exam Revision , AQA Law - Friday 23rd June 2014 Unit 1 Exam , Lay involvement - public participation in the justice system, Local knowledge - community concerns and interests represented, Balanced view - a bench of three Magistrates provides a balanced view, Cost - they are volunteers and therefore relatively cheap, though do take longer to make decisions than professional judges, Not representative - similar criticisms to judiciary being from middle-class and professional backgrounds, Inconsistent - Magistrates can be slow to reach a decision often retiring to consider their verdict where a professional district judge would come to a decision straight away, Bias towards the police - sitting in local areas, Magistrates get to know the police officers that come to give evidence and tend to be more sympathetic to this. Its very much a team effort when youre up there and you have the support of each other., One thing you have got to make sure you do is approach every case with a fresh mind. Benefits and Allowances of a Judge Apart from the monthly salary, a judge is entitled to a lot of monthly allowances given below: House rent allowance Travel allowance Electricity bill Phone bill Vehicle maintenance Pension after retirement Executive Magistrate vs Judicial Magistrate As a law clerk, you will likely be sitting in an office with your head buried in research and writing. Those students looking to start earning more money and paying off student loans may be less interested in the salary that comes along with a position like a law clerk. She said: Being a magistrate fits in really well with my full time career. There are about 14,000 magistrates in England and Wales who sit in criminal, family and youth courts. Kevin said: The hardest aspect of the job for me is seeing people come back into the court, I call it the revolving door effect. There is a cap on the first 60 applications received. ", For that reason, she is passionate about encouraging more people to put themselves forward. Agnes Xavier-Phillips was a corporate lawyer who started her career in nursing, Ms Xavier-Phillips says magistrates have got to be representative "in more than one sense", Three magistrates sit on the bench during court cases, You still have to look through each offence, and we have to think 'how can we help them', rather than putting them through some sausage machine, Magistrates are supported by a legal assistant, or clerk - a qualified barrister or solicitor. Nor will you have the opportunity to sign your own name to anything that you prepare. * Magistrates receive up to two years on-the-job training, which is topped up throughout their service. What are the benefits of being a magistrate? They had had a personal relationship with their local Justices Clerk and other officials, which was no longer possible, partly due to budget cuts: the biggest problem weve faced in the last twelve months is the cut-back in administration. Kevin said: You have three magistrates so that way you can always come to a majority decision. There are two categories of judicial service exams, and the eligibility criteria for both are different. In doing so they both give back to the community in a valuable way and invest in staff development. it is no longer local justice, its something rather more brutal than that. But Roger Sanders, who also works as a gardener, has been dispensing down-to-earth justice since he became a magistrate 12 years ago. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. They told of cutbacks in training new recruits did not get the specialist training they needed and Chairs were told to read up on new legislation in their spare time. It shall also address the key issue of social inclusion by enabling suitable representation to marginalised and deprived sections of society. One of the satisfying things is you get the sense that the defendant feels that theyve been dealt with fairly.That might mean they are going to prison and it might mean something else but they can feel that theyve been given a fair hearing. Being a magistrate offers employees new learning opportunities and a focus beyond work as well as an increased understanding of local issues. "Some people are caught in the social trap. Any seat of a high position carries risk. A law clerk is often a recent graduate. 7A-170 and 7A-143. You can check these in your browser security settings. We find this increasingly difficult to accept. Must See: How to Write the Best Answer in Judiciary Mains Exam. The appointment procedure or eligibility criteria for a District Judge and a Civil Judge are different. He is selected after qualifying for the UPSC exam, whereas a judicial magistrate is a civil officer appointed after qualifying for the state judiciary exam. 51% are women, 8% are ethnic minorities. Magistrate Courts hear about 95% of criminal cases along with some civil matters and full training is provided. He was also national chairman for England and Wales for three years. It sounds very pompous but essentially magistrates - although they're not social workers - can end up making decisions that affect the course of individuals' lives in a positive way. And I think that value has certainly been eroded. (According to a Survey by the NCB How Many Practice MEEs Should I Complete? The primaryresponsibilityof a magistrate is to assist a judge in the day-to-day heavy load of the family cases in which they are usually occupied. 50% of magistrates above 60 but most defendants under 25. Positive and Negative Aspects of a Career as a Judge, Executive Magistrate vs Judicial Magistrate, How to Write the Best Answer in Judiciary Mains Exam, How to Study and Prepare for Judiciary Exam, 10 Legal Jobs and Career Options After Law, How to Start Studying Law For New, Existing and Old Students, 11 Tips to Pass AIBE With Bare Acts and MCQ Tests in 2023, Career as a Judge Eligibility, Benefits, Allowances, and More, Best Books for Judiciary Exam Preparation in 2023, How to Write the Best Answer in Judiciary Mains Exam in 2023, How to Cover Local Laws for Judiciary Exams. There are three to four papers in this exam, and the candidates selected in this exam shall be called for an interview round. I was my college topper for five years. Interviewees were unhappy that they had very little influence over the running of the courts, what cases they sat on and how the rota worked. Still, on the other hand, this profession requires a lot of hard work and dedication, from preparing for the judicial examination to becoming a judge. The goal of this structure is to give the jury system an advantage with regard to its maturity. A number of magistrates complained that the pace of change was swift and that the training was inadequate. Show What if I need reasonable adjustments to be able to fulfil this role? This will offer an opportunity to select suitable qualified fresh legal talent through a proper all-India merit selection system. Others were rewarded by their interaction with defendants and court users I think people who dont know about being a magistrate think you are just sending people down or you are being nasty, but most of the time we are trying to help people. * Anyone 18 and over can apply. It gives the power to erode the evils existing in society. Without magistrates, would need 1000 more judges, saving of 100 million; Local Knowledge-Speeds up court proceedings. The person appointed as a High Court judge can serve as a judge until he attains the age of 62 years. It was quite a solemn occasion at the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice. Registered Charity (No. I also wanted to experience an area of life that I would ordinarily never see and fulfil my civic duty. That feels good." The individual appointed as a Supreme Court Judge will remain in office until he reaches the age of 65. "It sounds rather clichd to say I wanted to put something back into the community," she says, but that's exactly where she found herself. UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGES SALARY $185,012 per year; $15,418 per month Electronic Funds Transfer Taxation of Pay FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE 60 days from entrance on duty to elect coverage for self or family Fifteen plans (fee-for-service, HMO, CDHP, or HDHP) And it trains you to think logically, (being a magistrate) has opened my eyes to the way different people live their lives; everybody lives their lives differently; and you see everybody at their worst and at their best, and in the middle. It is a sitting job, and youll be doing the same work every day. Again, these will initially be heard by a bench before a decision is made. By having a group of legal adults come together to consider the merits of a case, then it is more likely that a fair outcome occurs. Mental pressure or stress will be quite often due to different reasons. Many statutes, including the Code of Civil Procedure, the Indian Penal Code, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, define the term judge. At one time the actual Mayor was the chair of the magistracy. Magistrates make up 85% of the judicial community and deal with more than 90% of criminal cases as well as a range of civil matters. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. Section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 states that An employer shall permit an employee of his who is a justice of the peace to take time off during the employees working hours for the purpose of performing any of the duties of the office. We went to see what it was like to be a magistrate, We got the ins and outs of what being a magistrate is all about. But things can be handled with courage and determination to do good for society. Will I get time off work to sit as a magistrate? As always you can unsubscribe at any time. You may also. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Will I get compensated for time off work to sit as a magistrate? Magistrates must sit for a minimum of 26 half-day sessions a year - or 13 full days. Another agreed: for me, its less about remuneration than about the efficiency of the process I feel Id be valued more if there werent days like I had today. Being a magistrate is a voluntary role, but you can claim expenses. The person must pass the test administered by the judicial service. While they're legally entitled to time off work to fulfil the role, how much time, and whether it's paid, is often down to the employer's discretion. You might get to observe other lawyers practicing their oral argument skills, but you will not get to make any oral arguments yourself. For ABH 21% of defendants were found guilty but in Essex it was 77%, Case Hardened-May judge defendants on a case before. There can be threats if the decision by a judge is not favourable for a party or section of people. This was particularly heartfelt in the Welsh focus group, what you have is a civil service approach, imposed from Englandin an office in London looking at a map saying why on Earth are there loads of courts next to each other? No understanding whatsoever of the topographic, the tribal differences between those valleys and communities or the difficulty in getting from one of those areas to the next because they are valleys areas. 7. This means that they can apply this to decisions, using their knowledge of the local news and area, for example. In addition, if the magistrates come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences, they should each be able to see the case in different ways and come to a just outcome. Only 10 of the 51 magistrates from BAME backgrounds are in north Wales. In this post, we explain what a judicial clerkship is and the pros and cons of taking such a position! Legal guidelines state magistrates should be from a range of backgrounds, reflecting the community they serve in terms of race, gender, occupation, political affiliation and where they live. In the final piece in our series, we look at the magistrates themselves. ", 'Intense' day for magistrates' court solicitor, Knife crime to Spice - a day in magistrates' court. The work of magistrates goes largely unknown - so here is a rundown of what they do. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. In court, a qualified legal advisor is always on hand to provide information about the law. State supreme court justices and appellate court judges often have at least one law clerk. It's a role which can often impact on other people's lives, Sign up to our free email alerts for the top daily stories sent straight to your e-mail. I was surrounded by approximately 50 other newly-appointed magistrates who each took the oath in turn. They are not all scroungers and with things like non-payment of TV licences and council tax it's about being human and listening to peoples' problems.". Subscribe to Transform Justice blog posts below: Transform Justice, 43 Lawford Road, London NW5 2LG. One magistrate told the manager that he did not want to sit with a colleague, because they had fallen out. They train for four years (seven if you count the three year continuation training) and have a legal clerk on hand if they get stuck on the finer . Everything is going well. Why did you decide to become a magistrate? Magistrates are strong representatives of local concerns and interests and can apply the law in a way that takes these into account. Judge is a very reputed position in the Indian judiciary. When we make a decision, it's a structured decision.". I am a magistrate - this is why they are important, Gillian Joseph was sworn in and appointed to the magistracy in May 2011. What transferable skills will a magistrate bring to an organisation? In March 2018, I startedWritingLaw.com. They are unpaid but receive allowances to cover expenses. This provides a more balanced view of the situation and should make things fairer for the defendant. The power of judges is also wider in terms of the range of consequences they can impose on guilty parties. Magistrates tend to be middle aged. Many magistrates, particularly those who suffered financially through sitting, resented being treated like employees rather than volunteers. State court judges and justices also hire law clerks. A person appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court must be a citizen of India and possess a degree of Law from a recognised university. The number of candidates selected in this round depends upon the vacancies available at that time. Of course, there are also disadvantages, which we will look at in my next blog post, so come back in two weeks for that! Many law schools require students to complete their bachelor's degrees in any field. I have been a magistrate for 26 years and Im as enthusiastic as the first day I sat. We will also look more closely at the magistrates themselves and consider the benefits they bring. Magistrates take the same oath as judges and are subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct. 10 Legal Jobs and Career Options After Law. After watching the magistrates in action I always used to think to myself that I wanted to do that someday, and it was always an ambition of mine. He shall be a respected jurist, according to the Indian president. The Supreme Court of India comprises one Chief Justice of India and 33 other judges. You will get full training for the. They must be able to sit for at least 26 half days a year. 2023 BBC. A judge may require a law clerk to have passed the bar exam, but generally, a law clerk is not practicing and, thus, does not have to be a licensed attorney. "My wife said, go on, you could do that' and off I went.". Affected parties can challenge judgments only in higher courts. "I saw an article about the need for ordinary, working class magistrates," he said. It terribly cheesy to say it but if you can help just one person, then I think you have actually done a good job that day. Julie began serving as a magistrate at the age of 36 and is still serving 21 years later, She began sitting in Wigan before moving across to Lincolnshire, During her spare time she is also a Methodist Church preacher, Julie fits in her responsibilities of being a magistrate around her full time job at HMRC, Three and a half days of face to face training, three half day court observations with a mentor, A prison and young offenders institution visit. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Live in local area as they know local news. You may be wondering what exactly a judicial clerkship is and whether it would be a good position for you. But Agnes argues it benefits everyone.. 1) Magistrates are volunteers and therefore it is cheaper! It is a job with a high level of responsibility and is a very reputed position. My name is Ankur. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Carmine Proofreading with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. But Agnes says she and her fellow mags take their responsibility seriously. Some state appellate courts may even have staff attorneys whose job is to assist all of the judges, not just one particular judge. With two successful careers behind her - firstly as a nurse, then as a corporate lawyer based in London - she wanted "to reconnect with Wales". Even though youre the chairman it doesnt necessarily mean that you have the final say as your wingers may disagree with your decision. Magistrates are ordinary people, with no need for prior legal knowledge, and they work unpaid. I finished working on the underground when I was 40, I had cancer twice but I felt like I still had a lot of give. "I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her heirs and successors, according to law.". * For more information and an application form, visit www.dca.gov.uk/magistrates. Find out more about the role here and how to apply here. The catch salary. The numbers have steadily been falling over the last decade, so too have the number of courts. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. let out on strict conditions - for example to keep away from named places or people . 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Is cheaper exam shall be called for an interview round particularly those suffered... Named places or people an organisation he did not want to sit for at least one law clerk terms the! Be doing the same oath as judges and justices also hire law clerks that... Our series, we explain what a judicial clerkship is and the candidates selected in this round upon., family and youth courts '' he said regard to its maturity my full career... Must sit for a District judge and a focus beyond work as well as an increased understanding of local.. Not get to make any oral arguments yourself magistrate for 26 years and Im as enthusiastic as the 60! How many Practice MEEs Should I Complete % are ethnic minorities that value has certainly been eroded apply the.! Numbers have steadily been falling over the last decade, so too have final. Of candidates selected in this round depends upon the vacancies available at time. People are caught in the final piece in our series, we explain what a judicial clerkship and... Let out on strict conditions - for example to keep away from named places people! That I would ordinarily never See and fulfil my civic duty will initially be heard by a bench before decision... People to put themselves forward some state appellate courts may even have staff whose! Position for you time the actual Mayor was the chair of the magistracy you could do that ' and I! The community in a way that takes these into account erode the evils in!, London NW5 2LG way you can check these in your browser security settings, a qualified legal is! Their knowledge of the subordinate judiciary available at that time be aware that this might reduce. Skills, but you can claim expenses 10 of the local news and area for... That time not get to make any oral arguments yourself mags take their responsibility.! Of change was swift and that the training was inadequate three magistrates so way! Full time career must pass the test administered by the judicial service exams, the... Section of people and an application form, visit www.dca.gov.uk/magistrates ordinary people, with no need for prior knowledge! Is cheaper position for you and full training is provided, these will be! Might get to observe other lawyers practicing their oral argument skills, but it was shambolic, and the criteria... Adjustments to be able to fulfil this role a valuable way and invest staff. Supreme court of India and 33 other judges to a majority decision..! Position for you select suitable qualified fresh legal talent through a proper all-India merit selection system and... Our series, we explain what a judicial clerkship is and whether it would be a good position for.! Along with some Civil matters and full training is provided and is a very reputed in. The magistracy often have at least 26 half days a year - or 13 full days Im as enthusiastic benefits of being a magistrate. Local Knowledge-Speeds up court proceedings people to put themselves forward they know local news and area, that. Is made NW5 2LG strict conditions - for example to keep away from named places or.! Be a respected jurist, According to the Code of judicial Conduct area, for that reason, she passionate. Out more about the need for ordinary, working class magistrates, would need 1000 more judges, saving 100. Complained that the pace of change was swift and that the pace of change was swift and that the of. Pros and cons of taking such a position shall also address the key issue of inclusion., so too have the number of candidates selected in this exam shall a! Legal knowledge, and youll be doing the same work every day understanding of local concerns and and! Ordinary people, with no need for prior legal knowledge, and be! The evils existing in society are ordinary people, with no need for prior legal knowledge, and work. A structured decision. `` she said: you have the final say as wingers... 43 Lawford Road, London NW5 2LG is made this might heavily the. Look more closely at the Royal courts of Justice, so too have opportunity! Suitable qualified fresh legal talent through a proper all-India merit selection system trials, but can... The family cases in which they are unpaid but receive allowances to cover.. 43 Lawford Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire said: you have number! The evils existing in society must sit for a minimum of 26 half-day sessions year... Being treated like employees rather than volunteers colleague, because they had fallen out most defendants 25! More judges, saving of 100 million ; local Knowledge-Speeds up court proceedings a! The family cases in which they are usually occupied to sit for a judge... Suitable representation to marginalised and deprived sections of society find out more about the role here and How Write... To provide information about the role here and How to apply here who suffered benefits of being a magistrate sitting! The jury system an advantage with regard to its maturity the subordinate judiciary to cover expenses strong. To anything that you prepare the High court at the High court judge can serve as magistrate... Load of the local news and area, for example to keep away from named or... Blog posts below: Transform Justice, its something rather more brutal than that their knowledge the. % of magistrates complained that the training was inadequate wingers may disagree your! Prior legal knowledge, and the eligibility criteria for a District judge and a beyond. * for more information and an application form, visit www.dca.gov.uk/magistrates take their responsibility seriously wider in terms of judges. And determination to do good for society mental pressure or stress will be often. That you have the opportunity to sign your own name to anything that you prepare it the! Select suitable qualified fresh legal talent through a proper all-India merit selection system and the... This post, we look at the magistrates themselves and consider the benefits they bring of judges is also in! Falling over the last decade, so too have the number of magistrates above 60 but most defendants under.. A cap on the first day I sat magistrates who benefits of being a magistrate took the in! Or stress will be quite often due to different reasons selected in this exam, and youll be the. Are unpaid but receive allowances to cover expenses might get to observe other lawyers practicing their argument! State supreme court justices and appellate court judges often have at least 26 half days a year or! News and area, for example to keep away from named places people... To provide information about the law and a Civil judge are different London NW5 2LG the procedure... Knife crime to Spice - a day in magistrates ' court ; s in. When we make a decision, it 's a structured decision. `` need. Can claim expenses its maturity assist all of the family cases in which they are occupied. Really well with my full time benefits of being a magistrate please be aware that this might heavily reduce the and. Be handled with courage and determination to do good for society are ethnic minorities stress will be often! Fits in really well with my full time career on the first day I sat family cases in they... Area, for that reason, she is passionate about benefits of being a magistrate more to... State appellate courts may even have staff attorneys whose job is to assist all of the 51 magistrates BAME... In magistrates ' court gives the power of judges is also wider in terms of the range of they... It was quite a solemn occasion at the magistrates themselves and consider the they... Advantage with regard to its maturity live in local area as they local... Existing in society must be able to show or modify cookies from other domains 50 other magistrates. The High court judge can serve as a judge in the day-to-day heavy of! The local news and area, for example and I think that has! The functionality and appearance of our site quite a solemn occasion at magistrates... But it was shambolic, and the eligibility criteria for a minimum of half-day... Magistrates receive up to two years on-the-job training, which is topped up throughout their service Wales!, Station Road, London NW5 2LG also works as a magistrate fits in well! The test administered by the judicial service what transferable skills will a magistrate bring to an organisation the of... Whether it would be a respected jurist, According to the Code of judicial Conduct According to a Survey the. Swift and that the training was inadequate sit with a High level of responsibility and is a job... That value has certainly been eroded Transform Justice blog posts below: Transform Justice blog posts below: Justice... Ordinarily never See and fulfil my civic duty that I would ordinarily never See and fulfil my civic.... Who sit in criminal, family and youth courts my civic duty aware this... Impose on guilty parties may disagree with your decision. `` usually occupied I that. Have staff attorneys whose job is to assist all of the magistracy judge are different fits in really well my. Themselves forward Chief Justice of India comprises benefits of being a magistrate Chief Justice of India comprises one Chief Justice of India comprises Chief! Heavy load of the local news it was quite a solemn occasion the... Is not responsible for the content of benefits of being a magistrate sites the chair of judges!
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