We have spoken to a range of successful candidates who have shared their insights about what it is like to be a judge, their experience of the selection process and their advice for making an application.
Features on successful candidates
Explore over 20 short features written by successful candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. Hear from fee-paid and salaried judges in both court and tribunal roles, and non-legal tribunal members: Features
You can also read about the different routes to and through the judiciary in our latest content series Pathways into the judiciary. Judges share the steps they each took in their careers and how their varying professional backgrounds have benefited them in judicial roles.
Advice from successful candidates
Preparation
- “Preparation is worthwhile, thinking about the key areas of interest and development at that time in the jurisdiction for which you are applying.”
- “Speaking to people who have been through the recent selection procedures beforehand can be extremely helpful.”
- “The key to a successful application for judicial office is preparation. The first thing I did was some judicial shadowing.”
- “If I were to offer advice to someone about to go through the JAC selection process, I would say to spend some time thinking about your experience and how it fits. Think widely and look at the competencies. For example, it is fair to assume you will be asked about treating people equally and about awareness of community diversity, so have a look at the Equal Treatment Bench Book in advance.”
- “For prospective candidates, I can’t recommend enough the value of thinking months and even years ahead. You need to gather examples as you go along. It’s no use racking your brain for examples with the blank application form in front of you. You need to make a note in your diary of your experiences and what you did.”
- “Although it is not always necessary to have prior judicial experience, personally, I would recommend that you do try to get experience in a fee-paid role before applying for a full-time role. Not only does it provide valuable judicial experience, particularly around judgecraft, but it allows you to make an informed decision about applying for a full-time post.”
Application
- “I put in quite a lot of time doing the application form because the JAC want detailed illustration and the form needs careful thought.”
- “Let your independent assessors know you have nominated them. You can gently remind them of some of the work they have seen you do recently to make their job easier when they come to filling in evidence on the form.”
- “When I was completing the application form, the real hard work went into the self-assessment section. I found it particularly challenging in two ways: firstly, limiting myself to 250 words for each of the criteria and abilities; and, secondly, making sure the information was evidence based. I spent quite a bit of time drafting and redrafting to ensure what I included was appropriate. It’s a very good discipline to be able to express yourself succinctly.”
- “Don’t assume that, just because you’re an experienced lawyer, you will be appointed. Show that you can think objectively, quickly and fairly and communicate in straightforward terms.”
- “The idea behind the application form is to enable you to show how your experience relates to the required competencies. They are looking for real examples from your own caseload and they will come up again in the interview if you get through to the selection day.”
- When applying for a judicial role, I would encourage an applicant to talk to as many people as possible who can offer relevant advice, not necessarily judges or lawyers: I also spoke to people in HR positions when I was applying for a leadership role.”
Qualifying tests
- “There is a strict time limit on qualifying tests. You have to work swiftly but try not to rush and miss critical aspects of the questions. Read each question carefully and put yourself in the judge’s shoes and think about what would be the fairest approach for all parties involved.”
- “I would advise future applicants not to be put off by the unfamiliarity of the qualifying test stage. It is designed to be fair and to allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role. There are no trick questions; all the questions relate to the competency framework for the role.”
- “I think to succeed in the written scenario test, you do need to get very familiar with any materials the JAC provide in advance, as there is no time during the test to search for information. Some people I know who did not get through had not spent much time on preparation.”
- “I felt nervous having never completed an online test before, so taking part in a JAC ‘dry run’ of a qualifying test as a mock candidate helped to boost my confidence. The feedback I received from the JAC helped me to better prepare for the real thing.”
Selection days
- “The analytical skills required for the role, and tested through the role play, are not necessarily instinctive, even to the most experienced lawyers. The JAC gives you guidance on the selection process and what you are required to know. Look through this carefully, even if it seems obvious.”
- “For the interview, re-read the application form, understand the competencies and work on your ideas. You have to think of enough examples so you do not have to keep on repeating yourself.”
- “My experience was that, at interview, one’s knowledge of law was presumed to a great extent. My advice to other candidates would be to concentrate more on what might be asked by the lay panel member. They look at a really diverse selection of areas and here I drew upon my experience as an advisor at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, where I’ve met and mixed with a diverse range of cultures.”
- “To prepare for the strategic question element of my selection process, I read the JAC guidance in advance and it was very clear that what was wanted was practical, example-based lines, so that’s what I thought about.”
- “To prepare for the interview, I also spoke to people I know who are sitting as deputy district judges. This was very useful in finding out what the selection process was like for them, what they enjoy about their job and what the challenges are. From those conversations, I understood that there were some key things I needed to get across in the situational questioning, like demonstrating fairness to both parties and giving everyone a chance to speak, while being aware that you need to get through your list in time as other cases are waiting to be heard.”
This short video gives advice on applying to be a Circuit Judge but the suggestions within it may also help you apply for other roles.
