Becoming a magistrate
The application process to become a magistrate.
Candidates for the MA’s Board of Trustees announced
13 candidates. Three vacancies. Your vote counts. This year’s trustee election is the most hotly contested in years, with a record 13 members standing for the board. Find out who’s standing and get ready to vote from 18 August.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
Family magistrates
Are you a family court magistrate, or would like to be one? Find out more about family magistrates, and the benefits to family magistrates of joining the Magistrates’ Association.
Speaking up for members: August 2025
A round-up of our recent policy and advocacy work.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
- Wider justice system
About magistrates
Magistrates make many of the legal decisions in England and Wales.
Fundamental reform needed to keep magistrates in post
The Magistrates' Association's new report is based on its members’ experiences and reveals that despite being vital to the justice system, magistrates – who are all unpaid volunteers – don’t receive the support and recognition they need and deserve, and this is becoming a resigning matter for some.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
FAQs
Answers to common questions about the MA and the magistracy.
Volunteers’ Week: balancing volunteering with a career
In conversation with magistrates who are balancing paid employment and volunteering.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
Do young magistrates feel they belong in the magistracy?
Dr Xavier L'Hoiry has blogged about the findings of his research on the experiences of young magistrates aged under 40. While some of his findings and perspectives are specific to that age group, many of the feelings, experiences and challenges faced by younger magistrates will chime with older readers too.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
Most magistrates left out-of-pocket, says Magistrates’ Association report
The Magistrates' Association today published a landmark report on the costs of being a magistrate.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
Key takeaways for magistrates from our conference
There was important news for magistrates, on issues that we’ve long campaigned for, at our national conference which we held in November 2024. In this blog, exclusively for our members, we reveal what these are, including a commitment to look at magistrates' expenses.
- Adult court matters
- Family court matters
- Wider justice system
Become a member
If you join the Magistrates' Association, you’ll get access to a wealth of benefits to help you be the best magistrate you can be.
Many magistrates’ courts are inaccessible, says Magistrates’ Association report
The charity's report is the first on-the-ground study into the accessibility of magistrates courts.
- Diversity, disparity and inclusion
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
Recruitment of new magistrates: The Challenge for 2026
Professor Simon Burtonshaw-Gunn is MA Cheshire Branch Secretary and a Member of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace. In this blog, he discusses the challenges that face the government's large-scale magistrate recruitment campaign.
- Diversity, disparity and inclusion
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
- Wider justice system
Progress towards a more diverse magistracy needs speeding up
Responding to yesterday’s judicial diversity statistics, the Magistrates’ Association has said that while it is proud that the magistracy remains the most diverse part of the judiciary, progress on magistrate diversity has slowed.
- Diversity, disparity and inclusion
Volunteers’ Week: Young magistrates’ network
In conversation with members of the MA's young magistrates' network.
- Diversity, disparity and inclusion
Local Justice Areas and Governance consultations
Consultations on changes to Local Justice Areas and on the administration of the magistracy ran from 31 March to 23 June 2025. The official response to the Local Justice Areas consultation was published on Tuesday 24 March 2026. Here is everything you need to know.
Volunteers’ Week: Magistrates in the Community
An insight into the MA's community initiative.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
Structural reforms needed to ensure timely justice, say magistrates
The Magistrates' Association has submitted its response to the review of the criminal courts.
- Adult court matters
- Wider justice system
- Youth court matters
Influencing for you
We are the only collective and independent voice of the magistracy. We advocate on behalf of our members and inform others about the vital role of the magistracy.
