If you are shortlisted for a role, you will be invited to a selection day.
These are held remotely for most fee-paid legal roles and non-legal roles. Salaried roles, some leadership roles and s9(4) Deputy High Court Judge exercises, may have face-to-face selection days.
Check the vacancy page for information about how your selection day will be run. You can also read feedback reports about previous selection days.
Before selection day
When you apply for a role, you:
- should check your availability against the selection dates offered (we can’t give you any alternative dates)
- must disclose if you are a related to or known by a Judicial Appointments Commission Commissioner or panel member
- should ask for any reasonable adjustments – if you have any new requests before selection day, you should contact the selection exercise team as soon as possible.
During selection day
During a selection day you will take part in a panel interview based on the framework specified in the role vacancy. Find out about frameworks if you are:
You will also complete a number of exercises which could include:
- a role play
- situational questions
- strategic leadership questions
The type of exercises depends on the role. They will be clearly laid out on the vacancy page.
About the interview panel
The interview panel will be assessing the evidence you provide of the Judicial Skills and Abilities Framework. Standard panels are made up of:
- a chairperson who is not a legal expert
- an independent member who is not a legal expert
- a judicial member from the relevant area
Some panels for non-legal roles can be made up of these same members as well as a relevant specialist such as a medical person.
However, for some roles such as High Court Judge, the panel will include one or more of:
- the JAC’s Commissioners
- the Lead Judge for the appropriate division (Chancery, Family, Queen’s Bench)
- an independent member who is not a legal expert
After selection day
At the end of the day period, panel members will consider all the evidence provided and the grade assigned to each candidate.
The chairperson then completes a report with the overall assessment of the selection panel. This report forms part of the information presented to the JAC who then recommend applicants.
Expenses
You cannot claim for expenses incurred for attending a selection day although exceptions to this may apply if you have a disability and have an agreed reasonable adjustment.
Recording
The JAC records part of the selection process including interviews, telephone assessments, role plays, situational questioning and presentations. This ensures there is an accurate record for quality assurance.
We store recordings on a secure digital platform for 12 months after the exercise before they are destroyed. Only panel members, Commissioners and staff can access these recordings. We do not share them with candidates.