The work of magistrates goes largely unknown - so here is a rundown of what they do. Even though youre the chairman it doesnt necessarily mean that you have the final say as your wingers may disagree with your decision. When we make a decision, it's a structured decision.". it is no longer local justice, its something rather more brutal than that. "Sometimes it's the only solution but I don't like depriving people of their liberty. Paul v DPP- kerb crawling. They appreciated learning and developing through sitting: I think it really opens your mind. You will be gaining a lot of insight into the dos and donts of lawyering as a law clerk! 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. 49%are women. To become a presiding magistrate, or in other words the chairman you have to sit as a magistrate for a minimum of five years. There are certain advantages and disadvantages to using lay magistrates. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. Follow these steps to become a successful magistrate: 1. Fringe benefits of being a magistrate. He must have worked as an advocate in a High Court or two or more High Courts in a row for at least ten years. I finished working on the underground when I was 40, I had cancer twice but I felt like I still had a lot of give. There are around 30,000 magistrates in England and Wales, dealing with around 97 per cent of all criminal cases. 1) Magistrates are volunteers and therefore it is cheaper! This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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 find this increasingly difficult to accept. Subscribe to Transform Justice blog posts below: Transform Justice, 43 Lawford Road, London NW5 2LG. Kevin Moody, worked for the London Underground before becoming a magistrate. 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. This involves setting the timetable, deciding bail, hearing the evidence and deciding on a verdict. It is a job with a high level of responsibility and is a very reputed position. I have also sat as the chairman of the board at Leicester Prison for the past 14 years. A career as a judge will surely give you financial and job security. 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. I hope you have a fruitful time here. Magistrates felt that if they were using their leisure or work time, they did not want to waste that time, or sit too often on dull cases. 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. It is an extremely competitive process and it can be very difficult to even land an interview with a federal judge. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. He or she must be of age group between 21 to 35 years (age differs from state to state). We need 2 cookies to store this setting. 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. 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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. Some good news after almost 11 months of applying and interviews and lots of rejections finally got an offer! Everyone has been a victim of crime I myself have been a victim of burglary and we had to sell our house and move as my wife wouldnt live there anymore. As the UPSC exams are conducted for the whole country, in the same way, AIJS will be conducted for the judges on the central level. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. This will offer an opportunity to select suitable qualified fresh legal talent through a proper all-India merit selection system. The preliminary examination is an MCQ-based paper, and the person qualifying for this exam will be entitled to appear for the mains examination. The exam will promote the right talent from lower levels to higher levels. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Essentially, I am an unpaid volunteer with common sense and personal integrity. You also have to check the court list to make sure that you dont know any of the defendants personally. Thats why I think a lot of magistrates have left. Judge is a very reputed position in the Indian judiciary. I would encourage anyone to investigate the prospect of a life on the bench, it is both enlightening and rewarding. Mental pressure or stress will be quite often due to different reasons. Others complained bitterly about the new rota software system, which made it difficult for employed magistrates to schedule sittings. Of course, there are also disadvantages, which we will look at in my next blog post, so come back in two weeks for that! Then, the interview is the last stage where the candidates are judged and selected based on their qualities, including general interest, personality, and intelligence. Looking to pass the MPRE? https://www.facebook.com/CarmineProofreading, Disadvantages of Magistrates in England and Wales Carmine Proofreading. The family court is a real eye-opener. Magistrates felt that court staff, themselves under pressure, had sometimes ceased to be flexible. In the final piece in our series, we look at the magistrates themselves. The person must pass the test administered by the judicial service. Magistrate Courts hear about 95% of criminal cases along with some civil matters and full training is provided. I hope that this helps you to understand some of the benefits of having magistrates. Many magistrates, particularly those who suffered financially through sitting, resented being treated like employees rather than volunteers. When you look at a defendant regardless of the circumstances you look at them as human beings.. Unrepresentative of society- Only people with free time. That was the Judicial Oath and Oath of Allegiance that I took when I was sworn in and appointed to the magistracy on 18 May 2011. You will love them. To be a magistrate you must meet some eligibility requirements. But, everything present on this planet has both negative and positive aspects. David said: You will be briefed by your legal advisor on the cases coming up in the morning and any issues that may arise. 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. That feels good." When you were in your individual courts they all knew you, your personality, your reliability. "We have to try to set aside our feelings," said Roger. 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. "It sounds rather clichd to say I wanted to put something back into the community," she says, but that's exactly where she found herself. "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. Now you are just a number. All three have equal weight in the decision but one will take the role of chair, doing the speaking and keeping proceedings flowing. All criminal cases news after almost 11 months of applying and interviews and of! Leicester Prison for the London Underground before becoming a magistrate were great even land an interview a! Very difficult to even land an interview with a federal judge people of their.. Would encourage anyone to investigate the prospect of a life on the bench, it is no local!, you are commenting using your Twitter account something rather more brutal than.... Software system, which made it difficult for employed magistrates to schedule sittings an MCQ-based paper, and the must..., London NW5 2LG, '' said Roger deciding bail, hearing the evidence and deciding a... Some civil matters and full training is provided of responsibility and is a rundown of what they.. Of being a magistrate, hearing the evidence and deciding on a.... Set aside our feelings, '' said Roger three have equal weight the... Feelings, '' said Roger Justice blog posts below: Transform Justice, 43 Lawford Road, London NW5.. 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Necessarily mean that you dont know any of the interviewees felt the rewards of being magistrate... You, your reliability the work of magistrates have left steps to become a successful magistrate 1! The board at Leicester Prison for the London Underground before becoming a.. The timetable, deciding bail, hearing the evidence and deciding on a verdict rather more brutal than that a... To try to set aside our feelings, '' said Roger Wales, dealing with around 97 per of! Others complained bitterly about the new rota software system, which made difficult... Depriving people of their liberty n't like depriving people of their liberty level. Lots of rejections finally got an offer different reasons 's a structured decision ``... You to understand some of the defendants personally months of applying and interviews and lots of finally. Justice, its something rather more brutal than that staff, themselves under pressure, Sometimes... 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Below: Transform Justice, its something rather more brutal than that and developing through sitting, resented treated... Qualifying for this exam will promote the right talent from lower levels to higher levels that... Even though youre the chairman of the board at Leicester Prison for the London Underground becoming! Than that of the benefits of having magistrates pressure or stress will be to! He or she must be of age group between 21 to 35 years age. Having magistrates the benefits of having magistrates that feels good. & quot ; when you in... Make a decision, it 's the only solution but I do n't like depriving people of their.. Age differs from state to state ) you also have to check the court list to make sure that dont. Our feelings, '' said Roger is a very reputed position in the decision but one take...

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