Our plan for faster judicial recruitment

The judicial appointments process is rigorous and so can take a long time, with some roles taking more than 50 weeks to recruit for. However, we are making changes to reduce this timeframe where possible, without compromising the quality of our processes.

We are making these changes to respond to recommendations from the Independent Review of Criminal Courts (IRCC), led by Sir Brian Leveson. This review called for a more flexible recruitment model to help improve resource forecasting for the courts.

Why does the selection process take a long time?

A lot goes into running a judicial selection exercise, with extensive work happening behind the scenes before, during and after the application window. To learn more about what’s involved, you can read a previous blog by JAC Barrister Commissioner, Tom Cross KC.

What are we doing to shorten this process?

Over the next few months, we will run a pilot across four large judicial selection exercises, to trial removing an online scenario test as a shortlisting stage and refocusing the selection day onto the roleplay with additional follow-up questions, to closer replicate the job candidates are applying for. This approach to the selection day has been successful on other exercises we have run and has been well received by both candidates and assessors.

The exercises included in the pilot are:

• Deputy District Judge
• Fee-paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum
• Deputy District Judge (Magistrates’ Court)
• Fee-paid Judge of the Employment Tribunal

Why?

These changes will cut current timelines by 25%, saving around 12 weeks for each judicial selection exercise. The pilot will also reduce the amount of time judges spend on supporting judicial recruitment, saving up to 350 days of judicial time across all four exercises.

These changes will also help us to respond to the recommendations from the IRCC and better support the needs of courts and tribunals.

Our priority remains retaining a rigorous assessment method that is fair to candidates from all backgrounds and ensures only the most meritorious candidates are recommended for judicial office. It is felt that these changes, in reducing the shortlisting stages and refocusing the selection day, allow us to deliver exercises at a greater pace, whilst ensuring that assessment of candidates’ key judicial skills is considered in depth.

What will the selection process look like with these changes?

The exercises in the pilot will follow an identical process, which will look like this:

1. Registration: candidates provide key personal details and basic information to allow us to process their application.
2. Online qualifying test: candidates take a Situational Judgement Test and a Critical Analysis Test, both multiple choice. These are marked automatically by the online platform, and candidates are shortlisted based on their score.
3. Full application: shortlisted candidates complete a full application, which includes a self-assessment, details of nominated independent assessors and any additional information required.
4. Selection day: candidates undertake a roleplay with additional follow-up questions, which will focus on candidates’ understanding of the pre-reading material and scenario.
5. Character checks: we conduct checks with a range of organisations to ensure all candidates we recommend are in line with our Good Character Guidance.
6. Recommendations: the Selection and Character Committee make recommendations to the relevant Appropriate Authority.

What’s next?

After all four exercises in the pilot are complete, we will conduct a full evaluation to reflect on how these changes have impacted the process.

Depending on the success of the pilot, we may look to roll out these changes to other exercises.

This is the first step we’re taking towards reducing the time it takes to run our judicial selection exercises, and we will continue to carefully explore further options in the future.

We’re here to help

If you have any queries about these changes, please contact enquiries@judicialappointments.gov.uk