Page 3 | Could you be a magistrate?

eastegg · 05/01/2026 20:28

Missingpop · 05/01/2026 18:29

I’d be no good I’ve got very short patience with some people; I cannot sit by & listen to any girl if child cruelty; animal abuse or domestic violence; out & out racism is not something I will put up with either; so anyone who comes up before me will get very shirt thrift & repeat offenders I don’t do softly softly approach I’d want them doing hard mundane labour 😂😂😂 I’d be their worst nightmare 😂😂😂😂

You wouldn’t be the offenders’ worst nightmare either, you’d be absolutely everyone else’s, because everything you would do would be appealed! So the actual offenders would probably love you 😂

eastegg · 05/01/2026 20:26

Missingpop · 05/01/2026 18:29

I’d be no good I’ve got very short patience with some people; I cannot sit by & listen to any girl if child cruelty; animal abuse or domestic violence; out & out racism is not something I will put up with either; so anyone who comes up before me will get very shirt thrift & repeat offenders I don’t do softly softly approach I’d want them doing hard mundane labour 😂😂😂 I’d be their worst nightmare 😂😂😂😂

Yes you’re right you’d be awful. There’s this thing called natural justice which involves giving everyone a fair hearing and treating everyone equally before the law. But at least you know you’d be bad, that’s good I suppose!

maggymcmagface · 05/01/2026 20:02

Well, in a couple of decades, I've not been reprised against

Buzzingabout · 05/01/2026 19:49

I thought it would be doing one’s bit for society but would definitely fear reprisal taking.

maggymcmagface · 05/01/2026 18:55

Considerable research shows that although the public thinks they would over sentence, they generally under sentence, so that's worth thinking about

maggymcmagface · 05/01/2026 18:54

Well, obviously @Missingpop Sentencing isn't a free ride , there's guidance and rules and things you have to do. You don't just sit there and make it up.

Missingpop · 05/01/2026 18:29

I’d be no good I’ve got very short patience with some people; I cannot sit by & listen to any girl if child cruelty; animal abuse or domestic violence; out & out racism is not something I will put up with either; so anyone who comes up before me will get very shirt thrift & repeat offenders I don’t do softly softly approach I’d want them doing hard mundane labour 😂😂😂 I’d be their worst nightmare 😂😂😂😂

DoubtfulCat · 05/01/2026 06:57

TyneTeas · 04/01/2026 21:46

There is a financial loss allowance for self-employed magistrates

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Ooh 👀

Thank you, I will sign up for updates (my region isn’t recruiting rn)

Legaleagleplease · 05/01/2026 06:13

Thelondonone · 03/01/2026 15:57

Without being big headed, I think I’d be quite good at it. However, I couldn’t do it alongside my current job or just for expenses so it’s a no from me.

Have you heard of the Dunning-Kruger syndrome?
Maybe everyone is above average 🤣

Nobu · 04/01/2026 23:54

I applied years ago and was brushed off. I had qualifications related to law, working class, no criminal background, wide ranging work experience
I'm not a stupid person.
They didn't want to know.

doublec · 04/01/2026 22:40

I started to look into this a few years ago but a cancer diagnosis (and treatment) rather got in the way. I saw an old colleague/friend a few weeks ago and discovered she's now a magistrate - it's 8 days a year and she enjoyed the training, and the work itself. When she applied, she was already over 50,ex-white collar job, privately educated and white...

Must get back onto this. Thanks OP for the thread!

Rhaenys · 04/01/2026 21:58

I think they’ve got quite a cheek expecting people to do it on a voluntary basis. I was shocked when I found out it was unpaid.

TyneTeas · 04/01/2026 21:46

DoubtfulCat · 04/01/2026 21:44

thanks @TyneTeas , I’m self employed and claims based unfortunately at the moment!

There is a financial loss allowance for self-employed magistrates

DoubtfulCat · 04/01/2026 21:44

thanks @TyneTeas , I’m self employed and claims based unfortunately at the moment!

TyneTeas · 04/01/2026 21:42

DoubtfulCat · 04/01/2026 21:35

I’d be very interested but I can’t afford to have unpaid time off from my job. If it were paid- even at minimum wage- I’d be quite keen.

www.gov.uk/become-magistrate/can-you-be-a-magistrate

"Pay and allowances
Magistrates are not paid, but many employers allow their employees time off with pay.

"If you lose out on pay, you can claim an allowance at a set rate, as well as allowances for travel and subsistence."

DoubtfulCat · 04/01/2026 21:35

I’d be very interested but I can’t afford to have unpaid time off from my job. If it were paid- even at minimum wage- I’d be quite keen.

Wherethehellismyhusband · 04/01/2026 21:32

I sit as a magistrate and I love it!

NewWinger · 04/01/2026 21:30

Hufflemuff · 04/01/2026 20:44

100% - but the timing hasn't worked out for me. They have quite strict pre-application criteria where you have to sit in court for 2 full days to watch a load of cases and it must be a magistrates court. Both times ive discovered they were recruiting it was too late/unworkable with current commitments.

Also - I know it sounds stupid, but the 2 nearest courts are in the middle of a city... without any parking at all (think about £38 a day to park type of places!) So it would be a nightmare getting to and from the courts.

I’d double check that requirement… when I did mine, a half-day was considered enough. Generally the morning session is 10-1, so plenty of time to see a variety of cases. Also try to pick two different days of the week, as you’ll have more chance of seeing different types of cases, i.e. remand court/traffic court.

Courts should have car parking for sitting mags, but I appreciate this might not always be possible, and certainly won’t be available to visitors. Do try to find a way to observe if you’re interested, it’ll really give you a good feel as to whether the role is right for you or not.

maggymcmagface · 04/01/2026 20:48

Netcurtainnelly · 03/01/2026 15:03

There's a big volunteer recruitment drive for magistrates at the moment?
Does it interest you?

But shortage of magistrates is not the issue with the back log.

it's the lack of court staff / legal advisors/ ushers and that they shut loads of courts a while back

maggymcmagface · 04/01/2026 20:47

They do have paid magistrates but they're judges in training normally
sit on longer or more complicated hearings.

maggymcmagface · 04/01/2026 20:47

Yeah @Hufflemuffbut do they not have court parking? Just phone ahead and ask to use that
we are really welcoming to observers. Try to get a chance to chat with them in down time

SumUp · 04/01/2026 20:46

The best way to attract a wider diversity of people, including younger working age people to the role is to make it paid.

I would hate to do this role but appreciate the people who do it.

Hufflemuff · 04/01/2026 20:44

100% - but the timing hasn't worked out for me. They have quite strict pre-application criteria where you have to sit in court for 2 full days to watch a load of cases and it must be a magistrates court. Both times ive discovered they were recruiting it was too late/unworkable with current commitments.

Also - I know it sounds stupid, but the 2 nearest courts are in the middle of a city... without any parking at all (think about £38 a day to park type of places!) So it would be a nightmare getting to and from the courts.

maggymcmagface · 04/01/2026 20:43

People in court are normally really stressed. They're not eyeing up the bench to stalk them later.

maggymcmagface · 04/01/2026 20:43

Lots of public sector or self employed people do it.
I knew of a plasterer and a beautician.