Find out what they had to say here. Before we start thinking about the advantages of magistrates, we will first consider what they are and how the magistrates' courts work. I have also sat as the chairman of the board at Leicester Prison for the past 14 years. The stats do little to dispel that. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. This quote was from research recently conducted for Transform Justice with magistrates across England and Wales. Most people between the age of 18 and 65 can apply although some criminal convictions for example, excessive points on a driving licence, may present difficulties as can potential conflicts of interest. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. it is no longer local justice, its something rather more brutal than that. There can be threats if the decision by a judge is not favourable for a party or section of people. AIJS exam is a step in which the exam for the recruitment process of additional judges and district judges will be held on the central level. You might get to observe other lawyers practicing their oral argument skills, but you will not get to make any oral arguments yourself. Nor will you have the opportunity to sign your own name to anything that you prepare. In this blog post, we will be considering the advantages of the magistrates courts and how they help the justice system in England and Wales to work smoothly. Kevin Moody, worked for the London Underground before becoming a magistrate. Show What attributes does a magistrate need to have? Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. A Gannett Company. Term clerks often serve in the position for 1 to 3 years. I was motivated to become a magistrate after years of court reporting. For example, magistrates can claim expenses on things such as travel. People with criminal records may be able to become magistrates if these offences are minor and there are not too many of them. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. This involves setting the timetable, deciding bail, hearing the evidence and deciding on a verdict. Magistrates felt that court staff, themselves under pressure, had sometimes ceased to be flexible. Whether state court justices and judges have law clerks and the process of obtaining such clerkships will vary greatly from state to state. Other graduates may hold positions in the legislature and executive branch but not in the judiciary. The judicial service exam has three phases, i.e., preliminary, mains, and interview. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Read Next: 1. The appointment procedure or eligibility criteria for a District Judge and a Civil Judge are different. 7. Eligibility criteria for becoming an Additional District Judge is: Eligibility criteria for becoming a Civil Judge or a magistrate is: The judicial service examination is an entry-level exam for Civil Judges organized by every state public service commission and High Court for law graduates. The power of judges is also wider in terms of the range of consequences they can impose on guilty parties. But, everything present on this planet has both negative and positive aspects. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Magistrates' court: Prosecuting cases from Spice to knife crime, 'Exhausting' - a day in the life of a duty defence lawyer, made by criminal solicitor Katy Hanson, that while there are flaws in the system, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Eli Lilly caps monthly insulin costs in US at $35, Kobe Bryant widow wins $29m settlement from LA. What is it like in Wales' 14 magistrates courts - and how are they working? Read about our approach to external linking. Candidates called for interviews are three times the number of vacancies available. Read about our approach to external linking. While concluding, I want to state that being a judge is an excellent career option for law graduates. "My wife said, go on, you could do that' and off I went.". In the Governments view, a properly framed All India Judicial Service will significantly strengthen the overall justice delivery system. These are Good Character, Commitment and Reliability, Social Awareness, Sound Judgement, Understanding and Communication, and Maturity and Sound Temperament. Editors' Code of Practice. 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. You will love them. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Magistrates must have six key qualities. Best Answer Writing Tips for Law Exams 2. Show How much time will I need to commit to the role? Each magistrate finds different aspects of the role challenging, from giving someone a custodial sentence to seeing repeat offenders walk back through the door. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. Will I get time off work to sit as a magistrate? Live in local area as they know local news. Typically, people sit as Magistrates (also known as Justices of the Peace (JPs)) one or two days a month. It can be distressing at times but also extremely rewarding as you get to help people rehabilitate themselves.. We may request cookies to be set on your device. If your employer wants to learn more about employing a magistrate and the benefits of doing so, they can find out more here. I am given 18 days a year sitting in court and my employers are really good with giving me the relevant time off. Inconsistent-May forget sentences due to working only 13 days a year. The manager threatened the magistrate with a disciplinary process. (LogOut/ Deciding whether a prison sentence or a Community Order is most appropriate can be the catalyst for someone turning their life around. 2023 Magistrates Association. 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. And when you have that eye-opener, it makes you sometimes a better person, sitting with different people with different ways of thinking it helps you develop as a person. Fewer than 5% identify as black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) - one of the lowest proportions compared to English regions, although in line with the Welsh population. But she admits the time required to commit to the role - and the fact it's unpaid - can be a barrier to those still in full time work. We will also look more closely at the magistrates themselves and consider the benefits they bring. 1) Magistrates are volunteers and therefore it is cheaper! Principal correspondent at Catch, Suhas studied engineering and wrote code for a living before moving to writing mystery-shrouded-pall-of-gloom crime stories. Live in local area as they know local news. There were problems with cases not being ready; today, witnesses and defendants didnt appear (two defendants were not produced from prison); in two cases the CPS did not offer any evidence. They resented often sitting on traffic and transport cases, boring work which they thought could be done by other judges: When you have magistrates with high skill levels in life, often high skills academically and in work to give them the rump end of work cant sustain their interestyoure not told when youre interviewed that youll end up doing the crap. 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. The system has its critics, not least because the team of three magistrates are lay people - they're not required to have a legal background, other than their three days of mandatory training. Many of the interviewees felt the rewards of being a magistrate were great. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. Advantages: Cost - Magistrates are unpaid, so this reduces cost to both government and the public. This means that they can apply this to decisions, using their knowledge of the local news and area, for example. 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. One advantage of magistrates is that they have local knowledge that judges covering a larger area wouldnt have. When you look at a defendant regardless of the circumstances you look at them as human beings.. Then, the interview is the last stage where the candidates are judged and selected based on their qualities, including general interest, personality, and intelligence. "We look at all aspects of the case and whatever the conclusion, it's always arrived at after great debate. "We need to dispel this myth that it's only for retired people.". Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarmineProofed, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarmineProofreading. It shall also address the key issue of social inclusion by enabling suitable representation to marginalised and deprived sections of society. Paul v DPP- kerb crawling. 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. "Whilst we are there and have to punish, it's also all about rehabilitation as well," she said. 3) Most decisions they make are using common sense therefore not much training is required! Thank you for your support! THE organiser of Stroud's alternative and hugely . Helps ensure public confidence, different social groups get a say in justice. But Roger Sanders, who also works as a gardener, has been dispensing down-to-earth justice since he became a magistrate 12 years ago. Spending some time clerking may allow you to really see what the types of law you learned about in law school actually look like in practice. This exam is conducted state-wise. "I think more young people should become involved," he said. Many statutes, including the Code of Civil Procedure, the Indian Penal Code, and the Code of Criminal Procedure, define the term judge. Professional Proofreading and Copy-Editing. Magistrates embody one of the most important tenets of the criminal justice system - the principle that defendants are judged by their peers. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please The magistracy benefits from having younger people in it, and younger people benefit from having been a part of the magistracy too. What transferable skills will a magistrate bring to an organisation? As a law clerk, you will likely be sitting in an office with your head buried in research and writing. I started as a magistrate at the age of 36 as I have always had a keen interest in the law. Now you are just a number. There are about 14,000 magistrates in England and Wales who sit in criminal, family and youth courts. Most of us will hope never to set foot in one, but thousands end up appearing in court each year. Successful candidates receive intensive training for the first two years and additional training follows every three or four months. The Indian judicial system is an organised mechanism for dealing with issues in society. There are many benefits to employers supporting their staff to be magistrates. The number of magistrates in England and Wales has fallen from more than 25,000 in 2012, to around 15,000 in 2018. In order to qualify as a magistrate you need to have an LLB degree as a minimum requirement. Many felt that central government wanted to take over the magistracy and them to be simply hired hands, who turned up when they were told to and never spoke up. That they can find out more here serve in the judiciary issues in society find more... Commit to the user icon in the ways you 've consented to and improve our Understanding of.! Excellent career option for law graduates Transform justice with magistrates across England and Wales who sit criminal! Employing a magistrate were great that court staff, themselves under pressure, had ceased! Or by navigating to the role the number of vacancies available that 's... 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