Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The jury system uses a specific group size to help reduce bias. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF BENEFITS . "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. SMW1494H06. Nor will you have the opportunity to sign your own name to anything that you prepare. There are two types of clerkships: term clerks and career clerks. The goal of this structure is to give the jury system an advantage with regard to its maturity. Named one of the fastest growing companies in the United States. "I saw an article about the need for ordinary, working class magistrates," he said. Subscribe to Transform Justice blog posts below: Transform Justice, 43 Lawford Road, London NW5 2LG. In terms of examples of how the centre had quashed local autonomy some cited the abolition of Magistrates Courts Committees magistrates who sat on these committees had managed the administration of their courts, a task now managed centrally. But Agnes argues it benefits everyone. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Please report any comments that break our rules. And I think that value has certainly been eroded. Being a magistrate is a voluntary role, but you can claim expenses. * Anyone 18 and over can apply. "It's all well and good saying we must have more representation, but people must put themselves forward.". Moreover, another disadvantage is that lay magistrates tend to be 'middle-class and middle-minded.'. In doing so they both give back to the community in a valuable way and invest in staff development. Greek transport minister resigns after deadly train crash, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Its so sad. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. It is easier for the magistrates to picture a particular event taking place if they are familiar with the area. Show What attributes does a magistrate need to have? Professional Proofreading and Copy-Editing. The process is extremely formal, with specific start and end dates for the application process that are uniform for all judges. 4) Having no autonomy or influence over resources. In addition, a disadvantage is that the lay magistrates are. A judge must be fair and impartial, doing everything for the sake of justice and nothing for the benefit of friends or family. Best Answer Writing Tips for Law Exams 2. A career as a judge will surely give you financial and job security. The number of magistrates in England and Wales has fallen from more than 25,000 in 2012, to around 15,000 in 2018. Magistrates are required to sit a minimum of 26 half days (13 full days) a year. The judicial service exam has three phases, i.e., preliminary, mains, and interview. The salary for clerkships can also deter people from clerking. In terms of the scope of their work, the area under their jurisdiction and the kind of cases they handle, a judge is more powerful than a magistrate. When addressing a counsel, litigant, or witness, a judge should avoid using a controversial tone or attitude. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this sites owner is strictly prohibited. One advantage of magistrates is that they have local knowledge that judges covering a larger area wouldn't have. Because I work for the Government I get 19 special leave days, which I use to sit as a magistrate.. As of April this year there were 1,059 magistrates in Wales. Magistrates deal mainly with minor or summary' offences such as public disorder and motoring offences. We are treated by the senior management in HMCTS as commodities to be moved around. As magistrates are volunteers and can be from any background, they may seem more approachable than judges do. Not representative - similar criticisms to judiciary being from middle-class and professional backgrounds Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. Many magistrates, particularly those who suffered financially through sitting, resented being treated like employees rather than volunteers. On being accepted as an intern at Livemint in 2010, he etched PRESS onto his scooter. Thats all changed. Magistrates are expected to sit in court for a minimum of 13 days per year and they receive training before they start their role. The independence of thought has been removed; and theyre trying to make the magistrate a clone of the civil service in its terminology, in its techniques and their inability to realise that we are not paid employees We are treated like undervalued paid employees, but not paid. What's he waiting for? In doing so they both give back to the community in a valuable way and invest in staff development. Advantages: Cost - Magistrates are unpaid, so this reduces cost to both government and the public. Prosecution Biased- As untrained , they may side with the police. 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. Public confidence- Like everyone else, and have life experiences. Inconsistent-May forget sentences due to working only 13 days a year. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. 1) Magistrates are volunteers and therefore it is cheaper! What transferable skills will a magistrate bring to an organisation? We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Clerking for a judge is a great asset to have on a resume for anyone who intends to pursue a career at a top law firm or even in academics. One advantage of magistrates is that they have local knowledge that judges covering a larger area wouldnt have. Advantages? Which is awful given the length of time the institution has existed, and our commitment. 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. You will have enough time to balance your personal and professional life. Having multiple magistrates also means that there is less chance of them being case hardened, as at least one should still have a fresh perspective. The Indian judicial system is an organised mechanism for dealing with issues in society. Show What if I need reasonable adjustments to be able to fulfil this role? Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Despite being a self-confessed eco-friendly leftie, he is a devotee of Stroud's new Costa Coffee, where we meet at his suggestion. Julie currently still works full time for HMRC while sitting as a magistrate. I think that the point made about magistrates being under qualified is absurd. 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. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. I was my college topper for five years. "Whilst we are there and have to punish, it's also all about rehabilitation as well," she said. We will also look more closely at the magistrates themselves and consider the benefits they bring. Read about our approach to external linking. Eligibility criteria for becoming an Additional District Judge is: Eligibility criteria for becoming a Civil Judge or a magistrate is: The judicial service examination is an entry-level exam for Civil Judges organized by every state public service commission and High Court for law graduates. Here, she talks about why it's so rewarding, and why it's a shame the numbers are falling: "I swear by Almighty God that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second, in the office of Justice of the Peace and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of the realm without fear or favour, affection or ill will. Why did you decide to become a magistrate? You also have to check the court list to make sure that you dont know any of the defendants personally. He is selected after qualifying for the UPSC exam, whereas a judicial magistrate is a civil officer appointed after qualifying for the state judiciary exam. Judges ensure a fair trial and pronounce the verdict after the case. Career clerks often continue working for the judge for an undisclosed period of time. No formal qualifications are required but potential magistrates must go through a selection process, which includes rigorous screening. They are unpaid but receive allowances to cover expenses. I felt that I had been called upon to truly serve the community. Supporting your employee to fulfil their duties as a magistrate is an innovative way of supporting staff development. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can I would encourage anyone to investigate the prospect of a life on the bench, it is both enlightening and rewarding. By continuing to use this site you are giving consent to cookies being used. There was much more of an integration into the civic life of the city, which gave it value. Age Any person over the age of 18 and under the age of 65 can apply to become a magistrate. 7A-170 and 7A-143. There is a cap on the first 60 applications received. "I find it really rewarding.". It gives the young generation a wide range of opportunities to get involved in this system and contribute to the best possible service to the country. Affected parties can challenge judgments only in higher courts. I had five trials, but it was shambolic, and only two were kind of done. Sky News presenter Gillian Joseph is a court magistrate. Lincolnshire Live spent a day in the life of a magistrate at Lincoln Magistrates Court with David Milner-Scudder who has served as a magistrate for 14 years, Kevin Moody who been a magistrate for 19 years and Julie, who has served the longest for 21 years. You can check these in your browser security settings. To be a magistrate you must meet some eligibility requirements. Click on the different category headings to find out more. This was particularly heartfelt in the Welsh focus group, what you have is a civil service approach, imposed from Englandin an office in London looking at a map saying why on Earth are there loads of courts next to each other? No understanding whatsoever of the topographic, the tribal differences between those valleys and communities or the difficulty in getting from one of those areas to the next because they are valleys areas. The amount of time an employee is permitted to take and the circumstances in which this time is taken must be considered by the employer to be reasonable with regard to. The exam will promote the right talent from lower levels to higher levels. Some offences, like theft and fraud, are considered either/or' offences and can be dealt with by magistrates or a judge, depending on their seriousness. A woman described a day in court, which she had taken off work : today I sat at X and spent most of the time doing nothing, because of the administration of the courts. 10 Legal Jobs and Career Options After Law. 806 8067 22, Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Advantages and Disadvantages of Magistrates, Lay magistrates advantages and disadvantages, Advantages and Disadvantages of Lay people, Advantages & Disadvantages of Magistrates, Advantages and Disadvantages of Trial in the Crown Court, See all The Criminal courts and lay people resources , AQA Law Unit 1 Predictions (17th May PM) , Unofficial mark scheme for aqa as law unit 1 , AQA Law Unit 1 (FRI 23/05/14) - Exam Revision , AQA Law - Friday 23rd June 2014 Unit 1 Exam , Cost-Magistrates are unpaid, but judges earn 90,000. In this blog post, we will be considering the advantages of the magistrates courts and how they help the justice system in England and Wales to work smoothly. Typically, people sit as Magistrates (also known as Justices of the Peace (JPs)) one or two days a month. Magistrate Roger Sanders. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Helps ensure public confidence, different social groups get a say in justice. But, everything present on this planet has both negative and positive aspects. Once a magistrate has been appointed, they will undertake training on the necessary skills to sit in court. It saddens me that applications are dwindling and as many approach the retirement age of 70 this could further deplete the numbers. Benefits and Allowances of a Judge Apart from the monthly salary, a judge is entitled to a lot of monthly allowances given below: House rent allowance Travel allowance Electricity bill Phone bill Vehicle maintenance Pension after retirement Executive Magistrate vs Judicial Magistrate It gives the power to erode the evils existing in society. Its very much a team effort when youre up there and you have the support of each other., One thing you have got to make sure you do is approach every case with a fresh mind. 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. Paul v DPP- kerb crawling. It is often highly regarded. 2023 Magistrates Association. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. David said: You will be briefed by your legal advisor on the cases coming up in the morning and any issues that may arise. Judges often hire law clerks one to two years in advance of the date on which the clerk will actually start working for the judge. I finished working on the underground when I was 40, I had cancer twice but I felt like I still had a lot of give. Magistrates make up 85% of the judicial community and deal with more than 90% of criminal cases as well as a range of civil matters. Not responsible for the magistrates to picture a particular event taking place if they are unpaid, so this Cost. 'S new Costa Coffee, where we meet at his suggestion larger area wouldnt have as an intern Livemint! To both government and the public to the community in a valuable way invest... A self-confessed eco-friendly leftie, he is a cap benefits of being a magistrate the first applications... I need reasonable adjustments to be & # x27 ; middle-class and middle-minded. & # x27 ; and... 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