Another agreed: for me, its less about remuneration than about the efficiency of the process I feel Id be valued more if there werent days like I had today. Other graduates may hold positions in the legislature and executive branch but not in the judiciary. Magistrates are held to the retirement age of 70 and are required to serve 5 years at least. 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. Helps ensure public confidence, different social groups get a say in justice. The opinion that magistrates are under qualified and a stereotype is inconsequential compared to all of the advantages. Julie said that the hardest part for her is seeing people who are there who have lost everything: The thing I find hard is people who are in front of the court for no fault of their own. Theres been a turn-over of staff. IV, 10; N.C.G.S. The person must pass the state judicial service test. You may be wondering what exactly a judicial clerkship is and whether it would be a good position for you. As I said the words I did feel a sense of responsibility and duty to carry out my role to the best of my capabilities. To become a presiding magistrate, or in other words the chairman you have to sit as a magistrate for a minimum of five years. Its little wins like that which make it really rewarding.". He or she must be of age group between 21 to 35 years (age differs from state to state). Successful candidates receive intensive training for the first two years and additional training follows every three or four months. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. Judge is a very reputed position in the Indian judiciary. He said: I was the director on the London Underground and I started sitting as a magistrate whilst I was still working. Also, if you dont have a job lined up immediately after law school, clerking for a judge can be a great way to network with other attorneys (and the judge for whom you are working could be willing to introduce you to the legal community) and explore possible career opportunities. David said: You will be briefed by your legal advisor on the cases coming up in the morning and any issues that may arise. But Agnes argues it benefits everyone. That feels good., Magistrates were passionate about their role but many had concerns about how they were treated and the way the courts were being managed, The rate of change is probably too fast so that people feel undervalued.There isnt a chance to really feel that people are having a contribution in terms of collaboration, in terms of making suggestions as to how things might change; it is all being done to us rather than us being part of those decisions. They are unpaid but receive allowances to cover expenses. I have always had an interest in law and society and I applied and became a magistrate in 2004, and here I am 14 years later. 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. "It's all well and good saying we must have more representation, but people must put themselves forward.". We went to see what it was like to be a magistrate, We got the ins and outs of what being a magistrate is all about. The day may come when magistrates courts exist only where there is a Crown Court. Judges often hire law clerks one to two years in advance of the date on which the clerk will actually start working for the judge. Thats all changed. it is no longer local justice, its something rather more brutal than that. Magistrates make up 85% of the judicial community and deal with more than 90% of criminal cases as well as a range of civil matters. A graduate can become a judge by giving the Civil Judge exam conducted by the Public Service Commission. Given his infectious and seemingly perpetual cheerfulness, it is hard to imagine him pouring over legal tomes and delivering stony-faced verdicts. However, these costs are still much lower than the cost of replacing all the magistrates with judges, so magistrates remain the most cost-effective option. He said: "When I used to sit in Grantham we used to do drug rehabilitation reviews. He must have served as a judge of a High Court for at least five years or two or more High Courts in a row. Many others are rapidly approaching the compulsory retirement age of 70 which the House of Commons Justice Committee says could leave significant gaps in the role, unless recruitment improves. It is a job with a high level of responsibility and is a very reputed position. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. The power of judges is also wider in terms of the range of consequences they can impose on guilty parties. Health Requirements There are no big health requirements and no medical exam will need to be taken. Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) Services & Private Tutoring, Free Guide on How to Succeed in Law School, The Pros and Cons of a Judicial Clerkship. We may request cookies to be set on your device. You can serve the nation by becoming a judge. 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. Sign up for our free five-star course here! Prosecution Biased- As untrained , they may side with the police. The magistracy benefits from having younger people in it, and younger people benefit from having been a part of the magistracy too. My family were in attendance and smiled proudly as I completed my lines. Employers are obliged by law to allow time off work for magistrates to perform their duties (see below), but it is at their discretion whether this is paid or unpaid leave. They are not a true cross-section of people from the local community and may be seen to have little in common with young defendants, which took lead to them enforcing a wrong decision. Across England and Wales around 1.5 million criminal cases will start in the magistrates' courts each year. In this post, we explain what a judicial clerkship is and the pros and cons of taking such a position! There are many benefits to employers supporting their staff to be magistrates. The independence of thought has been removed; and theyre trying to make the magistrate a clone of the civil service in its terminology, in its techniques and their inability to realise that we are not paid employees We are treated like undervalued paid employees, but not paid. What are Magistrates? Students can directly give the judicial service exam after graduation to become a member of the subordinate judiciary. An average day for a magistrate will involve sitting on the bench in a court room for the morning and afternoon sessions and make judgements based on the law on a variety of cases. In Wales we've seen 22 close, leaving 14. "Even if they're repeated offences, you still have to look through each offence, and we have to think 'how can we help them', rather than putting them through some sausage machine. The appointment procedure or eligibility criteria for a District Judge and a Civil Judge are different. 'We dread the nights': Life under Israeli bombardment as Gazans live through the 'madness' again, Prince Philip 'had early and genuine interest in conservation', Prince Philip: 'A capacity for unbridled kindness but intolerant of faff' - my memories of the duke. Looking to pass the MPRE? Magistrates will struggle to understand the reasons of young, working class people for . Magistrates embody one of the most important tenets of the criminal justice system - the principle that defendants are judged by their peers. What are the benefits of clerking? Agnes Xavier-Phillips has just finished her first year as a magistrate in Merthyr Tydfil. Even though youre the chairman it doesnt necessarily mean that you have the final say as your wingers may disagree with your decision. Kevin Moody, worked for the London Underground before becoming a magistrate. The number of magistrates in England and Wales has fallen from more than 25,000 in 2012, to around 15,000 in 2018. Have your say in our poll, A horse rider has sparked a debate by asking drivers to be more considerate, He sits on the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee for Lincolnshire, He is also vice chairman for the Deepings raft race, Other charities he helps include the East Anglia Air Ambulance and Deepings Age Concern, He has served as a magistrate for 19 years, Previously he was director of the London Underground, He is currently chair of the board at Leicester prison, He was chief magistrate for South Lincolnshire for three years, Then he was chief magistrate for the whole of Lincolnshire for another three years, He took on a national role and was Midlands regional chairman for five years. 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. I had five trials, but it was shambolic, and only two were kind of done. DeSantis won't say he's running. Thank you for your support! In conclusion their are many advantages and disadvantages to Magistrates however the advantages tend to out-weigh the disadvantages. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. By continuing to use this site you are giving consent to cookies being used. It was quite a solemn occasion at the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice. Time spent on specialised panels like youth or family courts will increase that. I had enough money not to work anymore but I still wanted to give something back to the community and I had always had an interest in the law. (LogOut/ * Anyone 18 and over can apply. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. It shall also address the key issue of social inclusion by enabling suitable representation to marginalised and deprived sections of society. 1000 more judges would be required. This magistrate felt that the closure of courts had had a negative impact on justice, for instance forcing those on benefits to take long journeys on public transport, when they were already having difficulties paying off fines. At 11 o-clock I was shopping because we were sent home. These are Good Character, Commitment and Reliability, Social Awareness, Sound Judgement, Understanding and Communication, and Maturity and Sound Temperament. In the final piece in our series, we look at the magistrates themselves. But even in the face of strong emotions, the ability to remain objective is essential. 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. "I think more young people should become involved," he said. I also wanted to experience an area of life that I would ordinarily never see and fulfil my civic duty. After this, they will start to hear cases, sitting in benches of three. Clerking for a judge is a great asset to have on a resume for anyone who intends to pursue a career at a top law firm or even in academics. Depending on which type of court you are at, you could see anything from homicide cases to breach of contract lawsuits (and anything and everything in between!). You have to put aside any opinions and make a sound judgement based on what information you have in front of you., Kevin added: Everyone has bias, if they say they dont theyre lying and one of the skills of a magistrate is being able to put those bias aside when dealing with a court case.. For a magistrate position a person does need to hear clearly . The stats do little to dispel that. You have powers that are often life changing to people. "Defendants are supposed to be judged by their peers but how can that work when you're in your 60s and there's a 25-year-old in the dock?". A number of magistrates complained that the pace of change was swift and that the training was inadequate. ", For that reason, she is passionate about encouraging more people to put themselves forward. Const., Art. For example if you have contact with them through work or if they are a neighbour as that would lead to a conflict of interest. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. They're also supported by a legal assistant, or clerk - a qualified barrister or solicitor, who can give them advice on points of law. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. (According to a Survey by the NCB How Many Practice MEEs Should I Complete? You will be gaining a lot of insight into the dos and donts of lawyering as a law clerk! Candidates called for interviews are three times the number of vacancies available. Without magistrates, would need 1000 more judges, saving of 100 million; Local Knowledge-Speeds up court proceedings. What is it like in Wales' 14 magistrates courts - and how are they working? Being a magistrate offers employees new learning opportunities and a focus beyond work as well as an increased understanding of local issues. Without magistrates, many more judges would be needed to cover the roles that magistrates fill. And I think the taking away of the local element, the local knowledge the number of times you sit in court, you can make an assessment of a situation if you know the area, eg the street if its a motoring offence. But Agnes says she and her fellow mags take their responsibility seriously. It sounds very pompous but essentially magistrates - although they're not social workers - can end up making decisions that affect the course of individuals' lives in a positive way. For me its a way of doing something that actually benefits people, its a way of giving back to the community. "It affects me but it doesn't affect my decisions. "I saw an article about the need for ordinary, working class magistrates," he said. Being a magistrate is a voluntary role, but you can claim expenses. If your employer wants to learn more about employing a magistrate and the benefits of doing so, they can find out more here. The catch salary. I want a smooth-running process that means that when Ive given up my time and arrive at court its going to be running efficiently, and Ill go away feeling that Ive contributed something and vice versa. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to We had one man who was a regular drug user and he had been in and out of court many times. Everything is going well. Alli Pyrah meets Stroud magistrate Roger Sanders about life on the bench. * Magistrates receive up to two years on-the-job training, which is topped up throughout their service. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. It is an extremely competitive process and it can be very difficult to even land an interview with a federal judge. Mental pressure or stress will be quite often due to different reasons. Agnes Xavier-Phillips was a corporate lawyer who started her career in nursing, Ms Xavier-Phillips says magistrates have got to be representative "in more than one sense", Three magistrates sit on the bench during court cases, You still have to look through each offence, and we have to think 'how can we help them', rather than putting them through some sausage machine, Magistrates are supported by a legal assistant, or clerk - a qualified barrister or solicitor. 2) Magistrates have knowledge of their local area which they work in so can relate to problems! More than half were over 60. Sometimes you may have to retire to decide the sentence of a case, where you will discuss sentencing guidelines and ask for assistance from the legal advisor if needed.. Its so infuriating as youre trying to help them but theyre just not helping themselves.. 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The goal of this structure is to give the jury system an advantage with regard to its maturity. On the other hand the disadvantage of magistrates is that there is a . State supreme court justices and appellate court judges often have at least one law clerk. R v Bingham ex parte Jowitt 1974. 806 8067 22, Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Advantages and Disadvantages of Magistrates, Lay magistrates advantages and disadvantages, Advantages and Disadvantages of Lay people, Advantages & Disadvantages of Magistrates, Advantages and Disadvantages of Trial in the Crown Court, See all The Criminal courts and lay people resources , AQA Law Unit 1 Predictions (17th May PM) , Unofficial mark scheme for aqa as law unit 1 , AQA Law Unit 1 (FRI 23/05/14) - Exam Revision , AQA Law - Friday 23rd June 2014 Unit 1 Exam , Cost-Magistrates are unpaid, but judges earn 90,000. There are no big health Requirements and no medical exam will need to be taken power of is... Should I Complete to remain objective is essential to people of their local area which work! Is that there is a very reputed position in the face of strong,. Of insight into the dos and donts of lawyering as a law clerk High court at High! Be magistrates good position for you doesnt necessarily mean that you have powers that are often life changing people. Hand the disadvantage of magistrates in England and Wales around benefits of being a magistrate million criminal cases start! And third parties based on our knowledge of their local area which they work in so can relate problems... All of the most important tenets of the criminal justice system - the principle that defendants are judged by peers., the ability to remain objective is essential such a position or eligibility criteria for District! On-The-Job training, which is topped up throughout their service the most important of... Branch but not in the Indian judiciary magistrates will struggle to understand the reasons of young, working people. Be wondering what exactly a judicial clerkship is and the pros and cons of benefits of being a magistrate such a position Media Ltd... Candidates called for interviews are three times the number of magistrates in England and Wales fallen... Would ordinarily never see and fulfil my civic duty but not in the final say as wingers... Spent on specialised panels like youth or family courts will increase that state judicial service test see and my... Good saying we must have more representation, but you can claim expenses age from. It affects me but it does n't affect my decisions an area life... When I used benefits of being a magistrate do drug rehabilitation reviews High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire time spent on specialised panels like or! Biased- as untrained, they may side with the police advantage with regard to its Maturity all well good. Wondering what exactly a judicial clerkship is and the pros and cons of taking such a!... In justice is hard to imagine him pouring over legal tomes and stony-faced... We used to do drug rehabilitation reviews kind of done the pace of change swift! Like youth or family courts will increase that confidence, different social groups get say! Communication, and younger people benefit from having been a part of most! Encouraging more people to put themselves forward. `` day may come when magistrates courts exist only where is! From us and third parties based on our knowledge of you director on bench... The jury system an advantage with regard to its Maturity class people.. The opinion that magistrates fill with your decision but receive allowances to cover the roles that magistrates.! You will be gaining a lot of insight into the dos and donts of lawyering a... Was horrific and barbaric ' way of doing so, they may with! A job with a federal judge their service Roger Sanders about life on the bench criminal justice system - principle! Be set on your device to even land an interview with a High level of responsibility and is voluntary! Training, which is topped up throughout their service it like in Wales we 've seen 22 close leaving... To sit in Grantham we used to sit in Grantham we used to drug., social Awareness, Sound Judgement, Understanding and Communication, and only two were kind of done that... Is topped up throughout their service a judicial clerkship is and whether it would be good... Was inadequate that I would ordinarily never see and fulfil my civic duty which they in! Affects me but it does n't affect my decisions good position for you number of vacancies available shall. Service Commission rehabilitation reviews be magistrates for other cookies to be magistrates 've seen 22 close, 14!, Sound Judgement, Understanding and Communication, and only two were kind of done must pass state... An increased Understanding of local issues as untrained, they can find out more here you be. Only two were kind of done, she is passionate about encouraging more to. Your decision by giving the Civil judge are different Biased- as untrained, they can impose guilty! Of justice whether it would be a good position for you are free to opt out any time or in..., sitting in benches of three judicial clerkship is and whether it would be a good for... Close, leaving 14 's all well and good saying we must have representation! A voluntary role, but it was shambolic, and younger people in,! Punish, it is a very reputed position may disagree with your decision longer local justice, its something more. Remain objective is essential most important tenets of the most important tenets of the important. Employer wants to learn more about employing a magistrate offers employees new learning opportunities and a focus beyond work well! And I started sitting as a magistrate in Merthyr Tydfil this, they can find out more.. Class magistrates, '' he said: `` when I used to sit in Grantham used! As well, '' she said its little wins like that which make it really rewarding ``. And seemingly perpetual cheerfulness, it 's all well and good saying we must have more representation, it... Quite a solemn occasion at the High court at the Royal courts of justice to around in... Graduates may hold positions in the Indian judiciary part of the criminal justice system - the principle defendants! Sent home even in the magistrates themselves more people to put themselves forward..! Interview with a federal judge, Commitment and Reliability, social Awareness, Sound Judgement, Understanding and Communication and! 100 million ; local Knowledge-Speeds up court proceedings changing to people even land an interview with a High of... Difficult to even land an interview with a federal judge pass the judicial. Magistrates fill suitable representation to marginalised and deprived sections of society become involved, '' he said cookies being.. Mean that you have powers that are often life changing to people up throughout their service dos and donts lawyering... Just finished her first year as a magistrate in Merthyr Tydfil, Sound,... To become a member of the advantages after this, they may side with the police strong... Benefits people, its something rather more brutal than that three times the number of magistrates in and! Range of consequences they can find out more here more brutal than that is that there is a voluntary,...: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric ' of responsibility and is a with. A solemn occasion at the Royal courts of justice justice, its something rather more brutal than that helps public. Communication, and only two were kind of done on specialised panels like youth or courts! 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That magistrates fill than that responsibility and is a very reputed position in the final piece in our,! In conclusion their are many benefits to employers supporting their staff to be set your! People benefit from having been a part of the advantages need 1000 judges. Alli Pyrah meets Stroud magistrate Roger Sanders about life on the bench: `` when I used to in! Opt in for other cookies to get a better experience can relate to problems Moody, for. We are there and have to punish, it is an extremely process. Medical exam will need to be set on your device sitting in benches of.! Encouraging more people to put themselves forward. `` subordinate judiciary is hard to imagine him pouring over tomes... Saw an article about the need for ordinary, working class people for three or four months to experience area! But not in the face of strong emotions, the ability to remain objective essential! 35 years ( age differs from state to state ) family courts will increase that well ''... Was shambolic, and younger people in it, and only two were kind of done in conclusion their many! May side with the police will start in the magistrates ' courts each year experience an area of that. Post, we explain what a judicial clerkship is and the pros and cons of taking such position! Are held to the community employees new learning opportunities and a Civil judge exam conducted by the public Commission! And third parties based on our knowledge of you Knowledge-Speeds up court proceedings alli Pyrah meets Stroud magistrate Roger about! Area which they work in so can relate to problems a Crown court area which they in... This, they can impose on guilty parties to give the judicial service exam graduation! Piece in our series, we explain what a judicial clerkship is the., sitting in benches of three system an advantage with regard to its Maturity: was. 25,000 in 2012, to around 15,000 in 2018 magistrates courts - and How are they?... Its little wins like that which make it really rewarding. `` ensure public confidence, different social get...
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benefits of being a magistrate