Best Answer Writing Tips for Law Exams 2. It was quite a solemn occasion at the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice. We may request cookies to be set on your device. 4) They have a legal adviser to educate them with the current law Once a magistrate has been appointed, they will undertake training on the necessary skills to sit in court. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. "My wife said, go on, you could do that' and off I went.". "Trying to put something through an algorithm won't work," she said. Judges preside over criminal, civil and constitutional matters in the High Courts, Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court. The goal of this structure is to give the jury system an advantage with regard to its maturity. The salary for clerkships can also deter people from clerking. 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. 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. Because most of us live in our world. Also, the training given to every magistrate can be expensive. "I try to judge crocodile tears from real regret and I think that's where life experience comes in.". 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 saw an article about the need for ordinary, working class magistrates," he said. While term clerks are generally recent law school graduates, career clerks can be at any stage in their legal practice. 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 told of cutbacks in training new recruits did not get the specialist training they needed and Chairs were told to read up on new legislation in their spare time. Local Knowledge-Speeds up court proceedings. He shall be a respected jurist, according to the Indian president. The other two are called wingers. "If magistrates are meant to represent and understand the community, they've got to be representative in more than one sense. Nor will you have the opportunity to sign your own name to anything that you prepare. In doing so they both give back to the community in a valuable way and invest in staff development. I hope you have a fruitful time here. "It can be distressing at times but also extremely rewarding as you get to help. It's a role which can often impact on other people's lives, Sign up to our free email alerts for the top daily stories sent straight to your e-mail. It is often highly regarded. Public confidence- Like everyone else, and have life experiences. I have been a magistrate for 26 years and Im as enthusiastic as the first day I sat. Students can directly give the judicial service exam after graduation to become a member of the subordinate judiciary. Most of us will hope never to set foot in one, but thousands end up appearing in court each year. (LogOut/ 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. 2023 Magistrates Association. There are three to four papers in this exam, and the candidates selected in this exam shall be called for an interview round. All levels of federal judges have law clerks: District Court judges (and sometimes even magistrates), Circuit Court judges, and Supreme Court justices. Professional Proofreading and Copy-Editing. Alli Pyrah meets Stroud magistrate Roger Sanders about life on the bench. "We have to try to set aside our feelings," said Roger. And when you have that eye-opener, it makes you sometimes a better person, sitting with different people with different ways of thinking it helps you develop as a person. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In addition, if the magistrates come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences, they should each be able to see the case in different ways and come to a just outcome. Prosecution Biased- As untrained , they may side with the police. 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. Read Next: 1. What's he waiting for? Magistrates felt that court staff, themselves under pressure, had sometimes ceased to be flexible. But even in the face of strong emotions, the ability to remain objective is essential. This will offer an opportunity to select suitable qualified fresh legal talent through a proper all-India merit selection system. In Wales we've seen 22 close, leaving 14. It gives the power to erode the evils existing in society. Deciding whether a prison sentence or a Community Order is most appropriate can be the catalyst for someone turning their life around. Without magistrates, would need 1000 more judges, saving of 100 million; Local Knowledge-Speeds up court proceedings. The jury system uses a specific group size to help reduce bias. In a survey 2000 +2001, people said they would not lessen magistrates role. On being accepted as an intern at Livemint in 2010, he etched PRESS onto his scooter. "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. Your email address will not be published. The number of candidates selected in this round depends upon the vacancies available at that time. Julie currently still works full time for HMRC while sitting as a magistrate. I would encourage anyone to investigate the prospect of a life on the bench, it is both enlightening and rewarding. Thank you for your support! She said: Being a magistrate fits in really well with my full time career. The person appointed as a High Court judge can serve as a judge until he attains the age of 62 years. Greek transport minister resigns after deadly train crash, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Career clerks often continue working for the judge for an undisclosed period of time. The manager threatened the magistrate with a disciplinary process. Everything is going well. Magistrates tend to be middle aged. THE organiser of Stroud's alternative and hugely successful Fringe Festival, which takes place this weekend, seems a surprising choice to be handing out sentences for drink-driving, speeding and other misdemeanours. * Anyone 18 and over can apply. The Best Part about the Uniform Bar Exam? There is a cap on the first 60 applications received. This involves setting the timetable, deciding bail, hearing the evidence and deciding on a verdict. Another magistrate felt that the connection between the magistracy and the rest of civic society had been severed : They have no idea how to deal with a cohort of volunteers At one time we were part of the civic society of X. Were more and more divorced from that. Required fields are marked *. They might beg to differ as to whether the judgments are always fair but my training means that I do always listen to all sides, at least. HP10 9TY. This provides a more balanced view of the situation and should make things fairer for the defendant. In March 2018, I startedWritingLaw.com. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Being a Magistrate is not usually a full-time job, nor is it paid. The person must pass the state judicial service test. Most judges have at least one attorney on their staff who helps the judge conduct legal research, prepare for hearings and trials and draft written opinions. 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 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. "Some people are caught in the social trap. R v Bingham ex parte Jowitt, one word mans word against police and magistrates sided with the police. The number of magistrates in England and Wales has fallen from more than 25,000 in 2012, to around 15,000 in 2018. To be a magistrate you must meet some eligibility requirements. By having a group of legal adults come together to consider the merits of a case, then it is more likely that a fair outcome occurs. Two stages of interviews will be held between May and June. A number of magistrates complained that the pace of change was swift and that the training was inadequate. Its little wins like that which make it really rewarding.". Its so sad. it is no longer local justice, its something rather more brutal than that. 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. You will get full training for the. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. I am also a Methodist Church preacher and being a magistrate very much suits my way of living.. By continuing to use this site you are giving consent to cookies being used. Sign up for our free five-star course here! State supreme court justices and appellate court judges often have at least one law clerk. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. The day may come when magistrates courts exist only where there is a Crown Court. What transferable skills will a magistrate bring to an organisation? Successful candidates receive intensive training for the first two years and additional training follows every three or four months. Cost-Magistrates are unpaid, but judges earn 90,000. Despite being a self-confessed eco-friendly leftie, he is a devotee of Stroud's new Costa Coffee, where we meet at his suggestion. Something went wrong, please try again later. 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Julie began serving as a magistrate at the age of 36 and is still serving 21 years later, She began sitting in Wigan before moving across to Lincolnshire, During her spare time she is also a Methodist Church preacher, Julie fits in her responsibilities of being a magistrate around her full time job at HMRC, Three and a half days of face to face training, three half day court observations with a mentor, A prison and young offenders institution visit. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. The person must pass the test administered by the judicial service. Agnes first moved to Wales in 1986 and describes herself as a "British Malaysian Indian". 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. Completed applications should be sent to [email protected] . While concluding, I want to state that being a judge is an excellent career option for law graduates. "As magistrates you get to know the reasons why offences are being committed, and you know what sort of help the court can provide, because we work closely with probation too. 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. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. David added: For me, the hardest part of the role is to actually send someone to prison when its actually going to affect other people. Moreover, another disadvantage is that lay magistrates tend to be 'middle-class and middle-minded.'. "Usually it's done as a last resort," he said. Local knowledge also means that court decisions can better reflect the specific needs and background of the local community. 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. Term clerks often serve in the position for 1 to 3 years. After watching the magistrates in action I always used to think to myself that I wanted to do that someday, and it was always an ambition of mine. "They're making their own staff richer - it provides a wealth of experience that will help them with their careers," she said. The exam will promote the right talent from lower levels to higher levels. For a magistrate position a person does need to hear clearly . 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