Independent assessments form an important part of the selection process. They take the place of references, enabling people who know you to provide examples of how you meet the required standard for effective performance in a judicial role.
Unlike references that are usually supplied as a final check, independent assessments play a vital role early on in the application process. As a result, when you think about assessors it’s important to choose them carefully. Nominate people who know you and your work well and can give a first-hand account of your skills and abilities. We recommend that you speak to your independent assessors early in the process.
Nominating the right assessors
You need to give details of two independent assessors on your application form. You will be asked to provide a short rationale about why you have nominated the two assessors as part of the application form.
Both of your assessors must have sound and comprehensive knowledge of your work and one of your assessors should ideally, be from your current employment. They do not necessarily need to provide evidence of every skill and ability but should provide evidence-based comments which the panel can use to create a holistic assessment of you in conjunction with your own evidence.
Think carefully about who you would nominate and how the evidence they provide will complement each other to provide a fuller picture of your skills and abilities.
A professional assessor could be:
- a senior partner or head of chambers
- a judicial office holder who can give examples of your professional work
- a client (including a local authority official) or a magistrate
- a line manager or a former colleague or client
A professional assessor should be able to provide an assessment of your performance in your professional role.
A judicial assessor could be:
- your leadership judge or the senior judge of the court or tribunal, jursidiction or circuit or region where you sit most often
- the Senior President or Lord President (Scotland) if you are a Chamber President (only if they are not the relevant Appropriate Authority)
- the Lord Justice Clerk or Sheriff Principal if you are a Sheriff (Scotland only)
- your appraising judge if you have had a recent appraisal
A judicial assessor should be able to provide an assessment of your performance in a judicial role, rather than as your professional role.
Who to choose as an assessor for fee-paid judicial roles
Candidates applying for fee-paid roles, are generally likely to not hold any judicial roles and as such will predominately nominate professional assessors. The decision is up to you on who you nominate. If you do hold a judicial role already, it is recommended that you nominate at least one of your assessors as your direct leadership judge.
Who to choose as an assessor for salaried judicial roles
When applying for a salaried role, we recommend that if you are a judicial office holder you nominate your leadership judge as a judicial assessor.
If your leadership judge is not familiar with your work, you can provide them with materials that will help them write their independent assessment such as recent judgments or decisions, recent appraisals, recent publications and anything else you may think is relevant.
Only if you are unable to provide a judicial assessor as outlined above, you may consider another judge who has first-hand knowledge of your work.
What counts as recent work for an assessment
If you have been on maternity leave or a career break, there is no time limit on how recently you have worked with your assessor, although where possible within the last two years is recommended so they can provide recent examples.
Things to avoid when considering an assessor
When choosing your assessor, do not nominate:
- anyone applying for a role in the same selection exercise
- the appropriate authority for the exercise
- the statutory consultee for the exercise
- a JAC commissioner
- a relative (even if you work or have worked with them in a professional capacity)
For more details, check the vacancy information page. If you are still unsure who to choose, contact us.
Speaking to your independent assessors
It is fine to speak to your assessors about writing their assessment. You could:
- tell them that specific examples help more than assertions
- remind them of your work or particular cases or events they could write about
- ask them to read our guidance for assessors
You may wish to share the Independent Assessment template form with them so they are aware of what to expect.
As assessments play such an important part in the selection process, the JAC must receive them in time to consider your application. To avoid any delays, you should let your independent assessors know:
- that you have given their details to the JAC
- the date the JAC will send them the assessment request and the deadline for submitting their assessment