188体育

Magistrates are volunteers who hear cases in courts in their community. They can hear cases in the criminal court, the family court, or both.

Each case is usually heard by 3 magistrates, including a magistrate who is trained to act as a chairperson.

A legal adviser in the court gives advice on the law and makes sure the magistrates follow the right procedures.

Criminal cases

All criminal cases begin in a magistrates鈥� court.

Magistrates pass the most serious crimes (for example murder, rape and robbery) to the Crown Court. Magistrates decide if the defendant should be:

• kept in custody - for example in a police or court cell
• let out on strict conditions - for example to keep away from named places or people

Magistrates deal with crimes like:

• minor assaults
• motoring offences
• theft
• handling stolen goods
• TV licence evasion

Magistrates can give punishments such as:

• fines
• unpaid work in the community
• prison for up to 12 months for one crime

Family cases

Magistrates can also hear cases at a family court.

These magistrates deal with cases about children. They can:

• arrange for a child to be taken into care or put up for adoption
• help separated parents make arrangements for their children
• enforce child maintenance orders
• make court orders to prevent domestic abuse

These magistrates can get advice from the child鈥檚 guardian or a family court adviser during the case.

To be a magistrate you must meet some eligibility requirements.

Qualifications

You do not need formal qualifications or legal training to become a magistrate.

You will get full training for the role, and a legal adviser in court will help you with questions about the law.

Age

You have to be aged between 18 and 74. Magistrates must retire at 75.

Personal qualities

You need to show you鈥檝e got the right personal qualities, for example that you are:

• aware of social issues
• mature, understand people and have a sense of fairness
• reliable and committed to serving the community

You also need to be able to:

• understand documents, follow evidence and communicate effectively
• think logically, weigh up arguments and reach a fair decision

Good character

In your application and interview you鈥檒l be asked to show you have 鈥榞ood character鈥�. This will include questions about:

• why you鈥檙e applying
• your commitment to the role
• if you鈥檝e done anything that might stop people trusting magistrates and their decisions, if you鈥檙e appointed

It鈥檚 unlikely you鈥檒l be taken on if you have been:

• found guilty of a serious crime
• found guilty of a number of minor offences
• banned from driving in the past 5 to 10 years
• declared bankrupt

Time off for magistrate duties

Magistrates are normally expected to serve for at least 5 years.

You鈥檒l need to be in court for at least 13 full days a year. You can ask to serve 26 half days instead.

If you hear cases in more than one type of court (like a criminal court and a family court), you鈥檒l need to be:

• in court for at least 30 half days a year
• in each type of court for at least 15 half days a year

Discuss with your employer how you will balance your work and magistrate duties.

You will get your rota well in advance, so you can give your employer plenty of notice of when you鈥檒l be in court.

Training to be a magistrate

In the first 2 years, you will have聽about聽10 days of training. This will include things like online learning modules, time with your mentor and meetings with聽stakeholders across聽the聽criminal justice聽system.

After the first 2 years, you will have about 1 or 2 days of training every year.

Pay and allowances

Magistrates are not paid, but many employers allow their employees time off with pay.

If you lose out on pay, you can claim an allowance at a set rate, as well as allowances for travel and subsistence.

Find out more about .

Conflicts of interest

You cannot be a magistrate if you have a job or role that means you could have a conflict of interest.

If you鈥檙e applying to a criminal court, this includes most roles that have a link to the criminal justice system or prisons. For example, being a police or prison officer.

If you鈥檙e applying to a family court, this includes:

• private detectives
• educational welfare officers
• police and crime commissioners
• Mackenzie friends
• those who work for the prison service and prison escort contract services

Before you can apply, you must:

• visit your local court or research how family courts work
• prepare for your application

Visit your local court

You must visit a criminal court at least twice in the 12 months before you apply. You鈥檒l be asked about this in your application.

. The court will tell you when to visit and which courtrooms to see.

Research how family courts work

You cannot visit a family court because these cases are heard in private. To prepare for your application, you must .

Prepare for your application

When you apply you鈥檒l be asked to give examples to show that you can:

• understand and appreciate different perspectives
• communicate with sensitivity and respect
• work and engage with people professionally
• make fair, impartial and transparent decisions
• show self-awareness and be open to learning

You also need to provide 2 references. If you鈥檙e employed, one of them must be from your employer. They cannot be a relative or someone you live with.

How to apply online

Visit the magistrates website to .

If your application is successful, you鈥檒l be invited to an interview.

If there are no roles available near you

You can . You鈥檒l get an email when a role in your area is available.

Other ways to apply

Contact your local advisory committee if you cannot apply online. You can request a different format, such as a paper form.