Page 4 | Could you be a magistrate?

jigglybits · 04/01/2026 20:40

Exactly - it's going to attract a very slim slice of the population who are interested in such things, and available to volunteer. I can't imagine many working class people managing to work for free?(unless they are retired)...What a bizarre system!

Perrylobster · 04/01/2026 20:40

CinnamonSwirlLatte · 03/01/2026 15:18

I would, but I can't because I work in a prison

Wouldn’t you worry about reprisals?

maggymcmagface · 04/01/2026 20:37

@Mags1001youd find that the court pulls in people from all over
I sometimes recognise people but it's not automatic that you can't sit. The legal advisor will ask how well you know them.
if you do you just sit that case out.

bear in mind on busy days you can have 40 attendees plus.

thetallfairy · 04/01/2026 20:35

I would love to

Looks fascinating

I used to work as a support worker in my local court house
Not for the faint hearted that's for sure !!!!

Mags1001 · 04/01/2026 20:33

The town i live in is too small & i currently do a job that involves public, so no.
However if it was not in my city then probably

maggymcmagface · 04/01/2026 20:33

Mags1001 · 04/01/2026 20:29

I've been a cab driver for 21 years, if probably know most of them that were up infront of me & I'd be sending them to crown!
Maybe

You wouldn't and you wouldn't.

maggymcmagface · 04/01/2026 20:32

I'd say the skills are :
being able to politely discuss various opinions with strangers (when sentencing)
being quick at calculating sentences and fines
being able to multi task when being watched by a whole court
read and process lots of information fast
maintaining attention when it's really boring without nodding/ looking horrified

and also hearing REALLY grim stuff and not letting it affect you too much.

maggymcmagface · 04/01/2026 20:30

AcidicTrifle · 04/01/2026 13:20

I’d be interested in being a magistrate in the family court, but I work for children’s services (although not a social worker, I’m in administration) so I imagine it would be a conflict of interest. Maybe if I ever change departments, I’ll apply.

You can now apply direct just to do family.

Mags1001 · 04/01/2026 20:29

I've been a cab driver for 21 years, if probably know most of them that were up infront of me & I'd be sending them to crown!
Maybe

maggymcmagface · 04/01/2026 20:29

I think people who say they couldn't judge are quite odd.
what , you'd not feel that a sentence needs to be served on say, people who groom vulnerable adults to deal drugs? Who assault their partners?

maggymcmagface · 04/01/2026 20:28

What RUBBISH about education

maggymcmagface · 04/01/2026 20:27

I am and have been for twenty years.

Quietmelody · 04/01/2026 20:26

I'm not surprised we're short of magistrates.
Two words: expenses policy.

Cariad10 · 04/01/2026 20:18

Netcurtainnelly · 03/01/2026 15:03

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

Absolutely does yes,

eastegg · 04/01/2026 19:14

HerLadySheep · 04/01/2026 11:36

I am a Magistrates Legal Advisor, it’s a fascinating role and there are some excellent Magistrates (some less so!) There is a real need for younger people with different life experiences to become Magistrates.
There is no need for any legal experience, training is extensive and Magistrates always have a Legal Advisor with them to help and guide them.
I work where I live and can honestly say I’ve never been approached by a defendant outside of court and I see 1000’s of people pass through my Court.

That’s probably because you are not seen as the one making the decisions, which of course you aren’t even though you have an extremely responsible and powerful role.

In my experience (criminal barrister who’s spent a lot of time in the mags), legal advisors are really good at giving off a very calm, impartial (which of course they are) don’t mind me I’m not really that important round here sort of vibe. While working like crazy to keep it all running of course! It’s not surprising the ne’er do wells don’t have it in for them, or even remember them!

On a wider point though, I agree. There’s much less sense of impending retribution from working in the criminal justice system than you would think.

My friend did once have a motorist he’d just prosecuted wait round the corner of Milton Keynes Mags though. The drivers are the worst.

Swampthing55 · 04/01/2026 19:08

I've been on the waiting list for over two years nothing has come up in Brighton

eastegg · 04/01/2026 18:51

HerLadySheep · 04/01/2026 18:25

Being privately educated is not a bar to being a Magistrate.

Show quote history

I’m responding to what others have posted about the boxes you apparently have to tick in the current recruitment drive. I haven’t checked whether it’s true, I decided to respond on the basis that there was at least some truth in it as it sounds like a fairly common ‘we are especially looking for…’ recruitment drive.

Lisacuddy1 · 04/01/2026 18:43

It did until I got rejected 😂😂

Snakebite61 · 04/01/2026 18:42

Netcurtainnelly · 03/01/2026 15:03

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

I'm far from respectable enough. Ironically, if you have a clean sheet, you can get away with anything in public life/service.

Maddy70 · 04/01/2026 18:36

I was until I moved countries. I really enjoyed it and felt I was giving something back to society. The screening process is quite vigorous as is the time commitment. Don't forget you don't get paid, it's voluntary. Your employer also has to agree and your company gets compensation to cover your absence

Mydogisagentleman · 04/01/2026 18:36

No.
Although I am a pinky liberal, I'm far too judgemental to be impartial

HerLadySheep · 04/01/2026 18:25

eastegg · 04/01/2026 18:20

I think it’s a damn shame. My dad died this year and it makes me sad to think that the education he and my mum scrimped and saved to give me would rule me out of something I wanted to do. I was the first in my family to ever go to university, have battled imposter syndrome all my life in a professional job but because I’m 51, white and privately educated sounds like I’m persona non grata.

Show quote history

Being privately educated is not a bar to being a Magistrate.

eastegg · 04/01/2026 18:20

Arraminta · 03/01/2026 16:31

Same here. First time ever my education had acted against me! And the fact I went to private school cast me out beyond The Pale.

Show quote history

I think it’s a damn shame. My dad died this year and it makes me sad to think that the education he and my mum scrimped and saved to give me would rule me out of something I wanted to do. I was the first in my family to ever go to university, have battled imposter syndrome all my life in a professional job but because I’m 51, white and privately educated sounds like I’m persona non grata.

Squirrelchops1 · 04/01/2026 13:58

AcidicTrifle · 04/01/2026 13:20

I’d be interested in being a magistrate in the family court, but I work for children’s services (although not a social worker, I’m in administration) so I imagine it would be a conflict of interest. Maybe if I ever change departments, I’ll apply.

Don't let it rule you out. It's likely you'd not be able to sit on cases where your LA was involved but other than that it should be fine. I worked for a LA when I started and only once in 2 years had to vacate a case.

Sidebeforeself · 04/01/2026 13:42

SerendipityJane · 04/01/2026 11:17

This is just another example of running the "justice" system on the cheap.See also: "juror expenses".

Well we all need to be happy with paying more in tax then. You cant improve the NHS , build more homes etc and then start paying for voluntary work without getting more income from somewhere.