The Judiciary of England and Wales and the Ministry of Justice are issuing a fresh call for magistrates in London in a new campaign that went live this week.
The appeal is a part of a renewed drive to encourage more people to volunteer for the magistracy across England and Wales. Magistrates need to be recruited across family courts in London to ensure they represent the community they serve and deliver justice*. New candidates will join a cohort of over 14,500 magistrates sitting in all jurisdictions across England and Wales.
Magistrates come from all walks of life to sit in their local courts. During a trial, three magistrates will sit as a team in court and work together to make decisions, with support from a legal adviser**. This recruitment round will see the refreshed ‘I can be a magistrate‘ campaign across social media, search engine results and digital audio.
Being a magistrate is a flexible part-time voluntary role that can fit around other commitments, including full-time employment. The role doesn’t require any qualifications or legal knowledge. The qualities valued in a magistrate are an open mind, rational thinking and a willingness to work in a team.
Magistrates are provided with the support and training needed to sit in the criminal or family court. There are a variety of cases to be heard, with responsibility for deciding the best course of action. Magistrates are assigned a mentor and supported by a legal adviser, who works with them in court to support them to follow the correct procedures.
Developing new skills that can be taken back to personal and professional lives is just one of the benefits of becoming a magistrate. These skills include, but are not limited to, negotiation, presentation and decision-making skills, alongside the positive impact delivered to their community.
Anyone aged between 18 and 74 years old who can commit to a minimum of 13 days a year, plus training, for at least five years is encouraged to register their interest***. For those in full-time or part-time employment, employers must legally allow the time off to serve as a magistrate.
Adrienne has been a magistrate in a family court for 11 years. She says, “I’m really proud to be a magistrate and make a meaningful contribution to the justice system. It’s a role that enables me to make a real difference in my community and give something back. As a magistrate working in a family court, I deal with a lot of different issues including the safety and welfare of children and applications for protection orders.
“Being a magistrate gives you the opportunity to make fundamental decisions which shape someone’s life and make our communities safer and better places. Magistrates also develop qualities and skills, for instance it has helped me to become more self-confident, a much better decision maker and team player.
Anyone can apply to become a magistrate and it’s integral that the bench is representative of the community it serves. So, if you’re driven by fairness, I’d really encourage you to find out more and apply when opportunities are available.”
To find live vacancies in your area or to register your interest, visit the website here.