MA Special Interest Groups

The MA is working to recognise and bring together magistrates who are also members of groups we believe to be underrepresented within both the MA and the magistracy, as a whole. We have formed Special Interest Groups (SIGs) which will allow these members to network and discuss issues specific to them. These are the only groups of this kind that exist for the magistracy.

The first of these to be launched was the Young Magistrates Special Interest Group (YMSIG), which comprises members under the age of 40. It was launched in April 2019 and has undertaken a series of successful activities over the intervening months. As only 5% of magistrates are under 40, whilst 52% are aged over 60, the group seeks to:

• Provide opportunities for young magistrates to network with the peers across the country;
• Generate discourse around the issues affecting young magistrates (who are members of the MA) and advise, inform and work with MA HQ to address these issues; and
• Advise, inform and work with MA HQ on the creation of routes to the recruitment of young magistrates.

To read about the first ever Young Magistrates Conference, please click here. 

The MA LGBT+ Group was launched in February of 2020. 

We are in the process of launching groups for BAME magistrates and magistrates with disabilities. 

For more information on the Young Magistrates Special Interest Group (YMSIG), please email ymsig@magistrates-association.org.uk .

For more information on the MA LGBT+ Group, please email LGBT@magistrates-association.org.uk

For more information on any of the other groups, please email info@magistrates-association.org.uk

Please note that you must be an MA member to participate in an MA Special Interest Group. Click here to join us!