Becoming a magistrate

Do you want to become a magistrate? Ready to take the next step and apply? Find out about the application process.

Photo: © Philip Wolmuth

Before you apply

Before you apply to be a magistrate, there are a few things to check:

Are you eligible? Not everyone can be a magistrate. While you don’t need specific qualifications to apply, some circumstances or occupations make you ineligible to sit as a magistrate.
Among other things, people who have been convicted of serious motoring offences in the last five years, undischarged bankrupts, anyone with a debt relief order against them, and those disqualified from acting as a director of a company in the last ten years, can’t sit as magistrates. In addition, people working in police and other law, justice and security jobs may not be eligible to apply. This page on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website has all the information you need.
Are you of good character and do you have the five key attributes needed to be a magistrate? These will be assessed during the application process, and are: making fair and impartial decisions, understanding different perspectives, communicating with sensitivity and respect, self-awareness, and the ability to work with other people.
Are you aged between 18 and 70 years old and can you commit to be a magistrate at least 13 days each year, for five years? The mandatory retirement age for magistrates is 75, and magistrates are expected to sit a minimum of 13 full days each year (or 26 half-days), for a minimum of 5 years. Also bear in mind that it might take 12-18 months for your application to reach appointment, so if you are close to the mandatory retirement age, please consider this before you apply.
Do you want to be a magistrate in the adult or family court? Decide what court (or jurisdiction) you would like to sit in. You can apply to sit in the adult (or criminal) court, or the family court. Click these links for more information about the adult and family.
Because family court cases can be more complicated than adult court ones, family court magistrates will often have to spend more time reading papers about a case beforehand.
There are also specialist youth courts, where adult court magistrates who have had additional training hear cases about children aged between 10 and 17. Find out more about youth courts here.
If you want to be an adult court magistrate, can you observe proceedings in a magistrates’ court at least twice, to check if the role is right for you? You will be asked about these visits if you’re interviewed. You can find your nearest court on the gov.uk website.
If you’re interested in being a family court magistrate you won’t be able to sit in on court hearings because they take place in private, but instead you’ll need to read up on the types of cases they hear. Visit the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website and watch these videos to learn more.
If you are employed, talk to your employer. Are they happy for you to volunteer as a magistrate? You will need to ask them for a reference when you apply and to confirm that they’re happy for you to be a magistrate. It’s also a good idea to ask them at this stage if they will pay you for the time you are sitting as a magistrate (the minimum is equivalent to 13 full days each year), or if they would expect to take some – or all – of your sitting days as holiday or unpaid leave. Here is some useful information for you and your employer about employing a magistrate.
Check your finances. Magistrates are volunteers and aren’t paid a salary, so please do your sums. Magistrates can claim some expenses but not all. If you will not be paid by your employer when sitting as a magistrate or are self-employed, you can claim a standard loss of earnings, although the payment may not fully compensate.

Still interested? Read about why some of our members chose to become magistrates.

How to apply to be a magistrate

Look on the I can be a magistrate website to find magistrate vacancies in your area. If there are none at the moment, you can register your interest to be notified when there are vacancies.

Once you’re ready to apply, you’ll need to complete an online application form. The application includes outlining how you meet the five key attributes required of magistrates and providing two references, including one from your employer if you have one.

You will receive an acknowledgment, please sit tight and wait! It can take up to twelve months for applications to be processed, so no news is still good news.

What happens next

As we mentioned above, you should hear if your application has been successful or not within a year. If it is successful, you’ll be invited to complete the magistrate recruitment qualifying assessment online.

Accept the invitation to complete the magistrate recruitment qualifying assessment. Have a look at the example questions for an idea of what the assessment will involve.
Boost your confidence by becoming familiar with some of the key terms that will be used in the assessment. They’ll be attached to each scenario, but knowing them beforehand won’t hurt.
If you are successful, congratulations! You’ll receive information about the next stage of the process, which is an interview. If you are not successful, please don’t be put off. You can reapply in six months and use this time to keep learning about what being a magistrate involves.
Look out for an invitation to interview. This will explore your motivations, commitment and your good character. Most interviews are online, although you can request an in-person appointment. Read and understand the interview guidance that you will be sent beforehand.
Attend the interview. This will feel less daunting if you’ve done your research and preparation – including reading the interview guidance. Good luck!
Then you’ll need to sit tight again. Communication about interview decisions can take a few months as the Advisory Committee will complete all interviews before they making recommendations for appointment.
If you are successful at the interview stage, congratulations again! You’ll now need to agree to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which can take several months.
Once you have passed your checks, your recommendation for appointment will be sent to be approved by the Senior Presiding Judge on behalf of the Lord Chief Justice.
If you are unsuccessful… commiserations, but please don’t give up. You can ask for interview feedback and reapply after two years.