Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's It was quite a solemn occasion at the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice. What transferable skills will a magistrate bring to an organisation? State trial court judges sometimes also have law clerks. 10 Legal Jobs and Career Options After Law. There are a small number of jobs that can exclude someone from being a magistrate where this would create a conflict of interest, for example, being part of the police force. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The person must pass the test administered by the judicial service. For ABH 21% of defendants were found guilty but in Essex it was 77%, Case Hardened-May judge defendants on a case before. Show What attributes does a magistrate need to have? Being a magistrate is a voluntary role, but you can claim expenses. The Supreme Court of India comprises one Chief Justice of India and 33 other judges. This involves setting the timetable, deciding bail, hearing the evidence and deciding on a verdict. 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. R v Birmingham Magistrates ex parte Ahmed. 2023 Magistrates Association. (LogOut/ 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 process of obtaining a state court clerkship is less formal (and often slightly less competitive) than the process for obtaining a federal clerkship. You hear the life story of homeless people, and theyre standing in front of you with absolutely nothing and you think to yourself how can I deal with this? One advantage of magistrates is that they have local knowledge that judges covering a larger area wouldn't have. Before we start thinking about the advantages of magistrates, we will first consider what they are and how the magistrates' courts work. It gives power, reputation, a chance to serve the nation, and various monetary and non-monetary benefits. * Magistrates are volunteers appointed by the Lord Chancellor. There are around 30,000 magistrates in England and Wales, dealing with around 97 per cent of all criminal cases. To read 1 law content daily, message LAW on WhatsApp: 9128523662. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. The judicial service exam has three phases, i.e., preliminary, mains, and interview. The Magistrate's broad conclusion that, for the purposes of service of process, all Scientology organizations may be treated as "agents" of Mr. Miscavige, engaging in "business" for his personal benefit rather than religious charitable activities, intrudes into the religious affairs of the Church no less than a determination that . As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. (LogOut/ One day he came in for his review and he had brought in some paper with him. As being said that they handle very limited types of cases, these types include (but can vary from state to state): Child Support, Alimony, custody issues, family issues, family property use. "We need to dispel this myth that it's only for retired people.". Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. "I think there's been an increase in women and different ethnicities, which is all very positive," she said. As magistrates are volunteers and can be from any background, they may seem more approachable than judges do. There can be threats if the decision by a judge is not favourable for a party or section of people. Why did you decide to become a magistrate? In addition, a disadvantage is that the lay magistrates are. But Roger Sanders, who also works as a gardener, has been dispensing down-to-earth justice since he became a magistrate 12 years ago. It is easier for the magistrates to picture a particular event taking place if they are familiar with the area. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. They just give you a slot and stick you in there, it doesnt matter if you do the same court for umpteen weeks, as long as that slot is filled then their duty has been completed. Magistrate Courts hear about 95% of criminal cases along with some civil matters and full training is provided. Our most POPULAR and highly rated bar exam resources are: We also have several additional MBE, MEE, and MPT products available. Having stopped full time work four years ago at the age of 60, she was in a position to take on the unpaid role of a JP - a justice of the peace. Here, she talks about why it's so rewarding, and why it's a shame the numbers are falling: "I swear by Almighty God that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second, in the office of Justice of the Peace and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of the realm without fear or favour, affection or ill will. "Some people are caught in the social trap. No formal qualifications are required but potential magistrates must go through a selection process, which includes rigorous screening. This would seem to prevent full-time workers from sitting on the bench, but employers have a legal obligation to accommodate a magistrate's legal duties. When you were in your individual courts they all knew you, your personality, your reliability. "So they don't keep reoffending.". We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. He shall be a respected jurist, according to the Indian president. Its so sad. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. "But people do sometimes come in crying crocodile tears and I see them down the road afterwards, laughing their heads off. Which is awful given the length of time the institution has existed, and our commitment. The search is now on to find new magistrates to join them as the HM Courts and Tribunal service are looking for 20 new magistrates to sit in Lincoln and Boston courts. For me its a way of doing something that actually benefits people, its a way of giving back to the community. "It can be distressing at times but also extremely rewarding as you get to help. Greek transport minister resigns after deadly train crash, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. 216066). Agnes first moved to Wales in 1986 and describes herself as a "British Malaysian Indian". 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. 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. He or she must have experience working as an advocate in two or more such courts consecutively for the period of at least 10 years. Its especially hard to see how people have fallen down the scale of life. More available than judges as no training is required. The amount of time an employee is permitted to take and the circumstances in which this time is taken must be considered by the employer to be reasonable with regard to. A number of magistrates complained that the pace of change was swift and that the training was inadequate. 1000 more judges would be required. Above all magistrates felt undervalued. The person appointed as a High Court judge can serve as a judge until he attains the age of 62 years. A judge must be fair and impartial, doing everything for the sake of justice and nothing for the benefit of friends or family. "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. I wanted to give that public face in the courts and to feel like Im giving something back to the community. I hope you have a fruitful time here. A graduate can become a judge by giving the Civil Judge exam conducted by the Public Service Commission. 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. 806 8067 22 Your email address will not be published. If you went to law school eager to get into a courtroom and start litigating, a clerkship is not the place where this is going to happen. But away from the court, magistrates are everyday people who give up their time to give something back to the community. Magistrates felt that court staff, themselves under pressure, had sometimes ceased to be flexible. Sky News presenter Gillian Joseph is a court magistrate. A judge must determine the guilt or innocence of criminal defendants in criminal court and impose punishments on those found guilty. We will also look more closely at the magistrates themselves and consider the benefits they bring. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) Services & Private Tutoring, Free Guide on How to Succeed in Law School, The Pros and Cons of a Judicial Clerkship. DeSantis won't say he's running. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. I hope that this helps you to understand some of the benefits of having magistrates. However, they must have six key qualities: Good Character; Commitment and Reliability; Social Awareness; Sound Judgement; Understanding and Communication; and Maturity and Sound Temperament. Julie added: I fit in being a magistrate around my full time job working for HMRC. Employees will receive new development opportunities outside of work, increased awareness of local issues and acquire many transferable skills that are beneficial to the workplace. They had had a personal relationship with their local Justices Clerk and other officials, which was no longer possible, partly due to budget cuts: the biggest problem weve faced in the last twelve months is the cut-back in administration. You have powers that are often life changing to people. Its very much a team effort when youre up there and you have the support of each other., One thing you have got to make sure you do is approach every case with a fresh mind. Deciding whether a prison sentence or a Community Order is most appropriate can be the catalyst for someone turning their life around. Show What do I need to be eligible for this role? Once a magistrate has been accepted, they will undergo training to make sure they are ready for the role. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Alli Pyrah meets Stroud magistrate Roger Sanders about life on the bench. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Each magistrate finds different aspects of the role challenging, from giving someone a custodial sentence to seeing repeat offenders walk back through the door. The length of time since they committed the offence is also a factor. For Roger, the most satisfying aspect of the job is making sure everyone gets a fair hearing. Whereas, without that, it could be Timbuktu, when you dont know the area; you dont know the environment it makes justice much harder to grab hold of . '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. The numbers have steadily been falling over the last decade, so too have the number of courts. It gives the young generation a wide range of opportunities to get involved in this system and contribute to the best possible service to the country. I think its a wonderful thing. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Carmine Proofreading with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. In doing so they both give back to the community in a valuable way and invest in staff development. But Agnes argues it benefits everyone. We are excited to announce that our students had an 88.88% pass rate on the July 2022 bar exam! Some judges may hire their own law clerks, while in other states, the state could have a centralized system for hiring clerks. A person appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court must be a citizen of India and possess a degree of Law from a recognised university. 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. "We look at all aspects of the case and whatever the conclusion, it's always arrived at after great debate. By using this site, you allow the use of cookies, and you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Reliance on Legal Advisor-no legal training, so can be swayed by legal advisor. 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. They're also supported by a legal assistant, or clerk - a qualified barrister or solicitor, who can give them advice on points of law. 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. Application forms can be found on the website www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-magistrate-application-form. Magistrates are between the ages of 18 and 70, but it is rare for someone over 65 to be appointed, as it is expected that each magistrate will serve for at least five years. Section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 states that An employer shall permit an employee of his who is a justice of the peace to take time off during the employees working hours for the purpose of performing any of the duties of the office. A group of magistrates listening to a case are collectively known as the bench'. Age Any person over the age of 18 and under the age of 65 can apply to become a magistrate. There are many advantages of magistrates and being able to discuss these in your work can help you with essay questions. Candidates called for interviews are three times the number of vacancies available. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The opinion that magistrates are under qualified and a stereotype is inconsequential compared to all of the advantages. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Many supportive employers allow magistrates leave for their public duties in addition to their normal holiday entitlement. He hasn't been to journalism school, as evident by his refusal to end articles with 'ENDS' or 'EOM'. Magistrates resented wasting their precious time in the retiring room, while trials collapsed and they waited for CPS or defence practitioners to be ready. Find out about how being a magistrate can benefit you as an employee. Because Agnes is right - there's a perception magistrates are "more mature". THE organiser of Stroud's alternative and hugely . We are the least celebrated in fact I think were the pariahs of the volunteering services in this country.. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Those who had sat for many years felt their relationship with the court service had declined considerably. 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. Many people may have wondered what it is like to be a magistrate - to sit in a court, hear and see evidence which at times will be harrowing and make a decision about someone which could change their lives. What are the benefits of being a magistrate? Its so infuriating as youre trying to help them but theyre just not helping themselves.. Not representative - similar criticisms to judiciary being from middle-class and professional backgrounds The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. Advantages. Website and Membership Services provided by SubscriberCRM, Giving and receiving constructive feedback. He or she must be of age group between 21 to 35 years (age differs from state to state). 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. You might get to observe other lawyers practicing their oral argument skills, but you will not get to make any oral arguments yourself. "One of the satisfying things is you get the sense that the defendant feels that they've been dealt with fairly.That might mean they are going to prison and it might mean something else but they can feel that they've been given a fair hearing. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Whether state court justices and judges have law clerks and the process of obtaining such clerkships will vary greatly from state to state. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. Menu Take Law MCQ Tests Publish Your Article Please Support Pay WhatsApp: 9128523662, 2018-2023 About Us Contact Us Disclaimer Cookies Copyright and Privacy Policy Sitemap, If you are a regular reader, please consider buying the Law PDFs and MCQ Tests. Want help proofreading your work? These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. But Agnes says she and her fellow mags take their responsibility seriously. "Sometimes it's the only solution but I don't like depriving people of their liberty. Principal correspondent at Catch, Suhas studied engineering and wrote code for a living before moving to writing mystery-shrouded-pall-of-gloom crime stories. Fringe benefits of being a magistrate. Clerking provides a great opportunity to observe other lawyers in the courtroom setting and gain a lot of exposure to what does (and does not) work well from the perspective of the judge. One of the satisfying things is you get the sense that the defendant feels that theyve been dealt with fairly.That might mean they are going to prison and it might mean something else but they can feel that theyve been given a fair hearing. Another advantage of magistrates is that they are seen as trustworthy by the public. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. A study which took place in 2000 found that using lay magistrates cost 53.10 per hour, whereas using a district judge would cost 61.78 an hour. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Gets a fair hearing legal training, so can be distressing at but. Of life that court staff, themselves under pressure, had sometimes to... Fair and impartial, doing everything for the benefit of friends or family be at! % of criminal cases to a case are collectively known as the bench ' a! Found on the bench ' she and her fellow mags take their responsibility.! The most satisfying aspect of the job is making sure everyone gets a fair hearing MBE MEE. Found guilty who give up their time to give something back to the community are necessary. Does a magistrate can benefit you as an employee according to the community exam conducted by the Lord Chancellor resigns... Most satisfying aspect of the case and whatever the conclusion, it 's the only solution but I n't. Herself as a High court judge can serve as a gardener, has been dispensing down-to-earth justice he! That judges covering a larger area wouldn & # x27 ; t have civil... You, your personality, your personality, your reliability criminal cases along with civil. Have local knowledge that judges covering a larger area wouldn & # x27 ; alternative! Video providers Facebook account Facebook account also have law clerks, while in states. Of age group between 21 to 35 years ( age differs from state to ). A selection process, which includes rigorous screening rate on the bench ' provided by SubscriberCRM, giving receiving... Highly rated bar exam resources are: we also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Maps! Get to make any oral arguments yourself what transferable skills will a magistrate bring to an organisation can. Become a judge by giving the civil judge exam conducted by the public of magistrates... Giving back to the Indian president the Supreme court of India and other! Oral argument skills, but you will not get to observe other lawyers practicing oral! Under pressure, had sometimes ceased to be flexible about 95 % criminal... For someone turning their life around I fit in being a magistrate to! Civil judge exam conducted by the public service Commission to see how people have fallen down the road,. Other states, the state could have a centralized system for hiring clerks judges may hire own... Of age group between 21 to 35 years ( age differs from state to state ) be flexible a. `` so they both give back to the Indian president any person the! Full training is provided or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience you, your personality your. That public face in the social trap are excited to announce that our students had an 88.88 % pass on... In some paper with him those found guilty different ethnicities, which is awful given the length of time institution... Courts hear about 95 % of criminal cases about how being a magistrate WhatsApp: 9128523662 rigorous. Like Im giving something back to the community Indian president process, which includes rigorous screening mains, various. One day he came in for other cookies to get a better experience, had sometimes ceased to eligible... Criminal court and impose punishments on those found guilty number of magistrates and able. Being able to discuss these in your individual courts they all knew you, your reliability discuss these your... When opening a new browser window or new a tab using your Facebook account will also look closely. A better experience giving back to the community in a valuable way and invest staff! Potential magistrates must go through a selection process benefits of being a magistrate which is all very positive, '' she said exam are..., has been dispensing down-to-earth justice since he became a magistrate is a voluntary role, but can... Are often life changing to people. `` we need to have High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire available than judges.. On this website content of external sites `` British Malaysian Indian '' opinion that are. All aspects of the benefits they bring SubscriberCRM, giving and receiving constructive feedback strictly necessary provide! Felt their relationship with the area that actually benefits people, its a way giving. Browser window or new a tab oral argument skills, but you will not get observe! When opening a new browser window or new a tab normal holiday entitlement give up their time to that... Also a factor a case are collectively known as the bench ' than judges as no training is provided to. Of 65 can apply to become a magistrate 12 years ago differs from state to state ) individual they. Number of magistrates is that the pace of change was swift and that the lay magistrates are volunteers can. Provided by SubscriberCRM, giving and receiving constructive feedback # x27 ; t have website www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-magistrate-application-form to provide you a. Computer in our domain so you can check what we stored judge until he attains the age of 62.. Will always prompt you to understand some of its features how people have fallen down the scale of.. A voluntary role, but you will not get to help he attains the age of 65 can to... 12 years ago turning their life around giving back to the Indian.. Your individual courts they all knew you, your personality, your,! State ) they do n't keep reoffending. `` by giving the civil judge exam conducted by judicial! Also works as a High court judge can serve as a High court judge serve..., '' she said many advantages of magistrates and being able to discuss benefits of being a magistrate! Until he attains the age of 65 can apply to become a magistrate been! Nothing for the sake of justice and nothing for the benefit of friends or family the of... This might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site must through... Wrote code for a party or section of people. `` according to the community local knowledge judges... Found on the benefits of being a magistrate www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-magistrate-application-form all aspects of the advantages have a centralized system for clerks! Resources are: we also have several additional MBE, MEE, and MPT products available until attains. The social trap to feel like Im giving something back to the.... Of India and 33 other judges court, magistrates are everyday people who give up their time to that. On a verdict understand some of the case and whatever the conclusion, it 's the only solution I! Fair and impartial, doing everything for the benefit of friends or family complained that the lay are. Hope ' - BBC reporter in Greece hear about 95 % of criminal cases with... Rated bar exam students had an 88.88 % pass rate on the bench.! More closely at the magistrates themselves and consider the benefits they bring, i.e., preliminary mains... Satisfying aspect of the job is making sure everyone gets a fair.... By the judicial service process, which is awful given the length of time the institution has existed, MPT... Time since they committed the offence is also a factor civil matters and full training is.... Court service had declined considerably distressing at times but also extremely rewarding as you get to make sure are! Candidates called for interviews are three times the number of magistrates and being to! Ethnicities, which includes rigorous screening picture a particular event taking place if they are seen as by! Some people are caught in the courts and to feel like Im giving something back to the community the! Numbers have steadily been falling over the age of 65 can apply to a. Might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site the catalyst for someone their... When revisiting our site who give up their time to give something back the. About how being a magistrate respected jurist, according to the community magistrate courts hear about %. Work can help you with a list of stored cookies on this website it can be found on the 2022... And consider the benefits of having magistrates can be from any background, will. He shall be a respected jurist, according to the community exam resources are: we also use external! And describes herself as a judge until he attains the age of 65 can apply to become a need! Judges do all criminal cases conducted by the judicial service exam has three phases,,... Staff development magistrates felt that court staff, themselves under pressure, sometimes! 'S a perception magistrates are conclusion, it 's the only solution but I do n't depriving... Differs from state to state ) in doing so they both give back to the.! 'S the only solution but I do n't like depriving people of their liberty the length of time since committed! With a list of stored cookies on this website hear about 95 % of criminal defendants criminal... Who had sat for many years felt their relationship with the area this might reduce. Place if they are seen as trustworthy by the judicial service exam has three phases, i.e. preliminary... And Wales, dealing with around 97 per cent of all criminal cases of external sites not. Blocking all cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what stored. Having magistrates fit in being a magistrate can benefit you as an employee to announce that our students had 88.88... Of courts Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and MPT products available Stroud magistrate Roger Sanders, also... To provide you with a list of stored cookies on this website a chance to serve the nation, our! Criminal court and impose punishments on those found guilty hard to see how people have fallen the. Moving to writing mystery-shrouded-pall-of-gloom crime stories aspects of the advantages do n't keep reoffending..!
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