Could you be a magistrate?

I am one and it is very interesting and rewarding.

I'd be happy to do it, I have the time, I tick one or two diversity boxes, I'm probably quite suited to the role. But as a volunteer? Nope.

I know they pay expenses, but I'd expect to be paid a decent day rate too, say, £250-£300 after tax/NI or, better still, tax free.

Not paying a decent rate is why magistrates are currently dominated by 'the usual suspects', not those of us who need a little more income.

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.

Yes. V worthwhile thing to do

You can register your interest even if your area bench isn’t recruiting, there’s a link at the bottom of this page.

https://magistrates.affinixats.co.uk/jobtools/jncustomsearch.searchResults?in_jobDate=All&in_organid=20425

I’m slightly gobsmacked to read that people have been discounted because of their education, I would hope that’s a thing of the past.

The only note of caution I would sound about education/experience is that a background in law isn’t (imo) necessarily helpful.

Bear in mind, mags aren’t legally qualified; we have Legal Advisers and defer to their knowledge in matters of the law. I recently sat with a new colleague who had studied law at Cambridge and had worked for the CPO. This person used both to try and throw their weight around, and to relate a lot of cases to what they would have done/had learned. But their past experiences were specific to their circumstances then, and what they studied at university or needed to work for CPO is really quite different to what magistrates need.

I certainly wouldn’t deter anyone with a legal background from applying, but I would urge them to approach the magistracy with an open mind and to be willing to consider things from a new perspective.

Hope that makes sense.

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.

Surely those are the exact people who keep the Magistrates’ Courts in business?

Well if it's not going to be funded then we need a government that will be honest with us, and abolish it.

I am sure there are plenty of Mumsnetters who would be only to glad to finally have the clearance to take out all the local paedos. Real or suspected.

Flytippers and vandals. Cut their goolies. off. It's the only way.

Ok well I didn’t know that and neither did many other posters who have also shown interest in the role so it’s hardly a failure of me not to go looking for a law that gives me time off. It would be helpful if this information was publicised in the recruitment

I agree but we have few options to help the Judicial system out of the hole it is in. Ever since the "Enemies of The People" headlines Farage encouraged the system has had less and less funding, crumbling courtrooms and long delays where women seemingly get their cases pushed down the order of service. I think an all hands on deck approach is a bit more useful.

I presume you don’t know all the laws, and this seems to be one you don’t know:

https://www.gov.uk/giving-staff-time-off-for-magistrate-duty

You might want to do some googling before you state things “certainly”, to contradict someone who has direct experience of something and when you actually don’t know…

Kent is still TBC. If there was a way to register interest without having to pick one of the 3 available that would be useful? I have checked 3 times over the last year as I am very interested - bit of a law background, degree in a more social sciences area and no kids at home any more so a lot of free time as a single mum. I did do GCSE's at a private school though so maybe it isn't worth applying?

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

I did think about it when I retired 6 years ago, but then COVID hit and I never got around to doing anything about it.

Other benches will be recruiting throughout 2026, including London-wide starting later this month.

https://magistrates.judiciary.uk/ac-recruitment-plan/?sType=magistrates_website#_gl=11fdzcem_gcl_au*Njk4NDQxNTE5LjE3Njc1MjM5Mzc.

Edited for typo.

It's a legal duty to give you time off for it, like it is for jury duty:

https://www.gov.uk/giving-staff-time-off-for-magistrate-duty

Your employer certainly doesn’t have to give you time off? Why do you think that, have I missed some law?

I already do a couple of non exec jobs. Working them around my work responsibilities (and they take nothing like 18 days a year) is very hard. It’s not necessarily the time off, but getting the work done in an intense role while also having an additional 18 days a year out of the business.

https://magistrates.affinixats.co.uk/jobtools/jncustomsearch.searchResults?in_organid=20425&in_jobDate=All

There are only 3 places to apply - all in the North. It might be better to put that in the thread title to define the areas?

Here you go, @YearoftheHorse60 - but just to say I was quite inexperienced then. I think most of the answers are still okay, but I perhaps answer a couple differently with more experience.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/AMA/4653590-new-magistrate-ama?page=1

"No private school."
I think that means no private school, given the context of blue collar workers only etc?

Either way the website says all of Kent and South East are fine and don't need any so it is area specific where they have shortages.

I think the poster said it was ticking one of the boxes that rules you in, rather than the opposite.

Ah that rules me out then - private school.
Funny though as I imagine we are the largest group of available women in the age range not having to work, that could afford to give the time...

An acquaintance of mine is a magistrate. My understanding is the majority are either retired or have a wife to pick up the slack because of the time it consumes. I don’t think it’s massively suited to working parents with young families which will obviously rule out a lot of people they’re hoping to recruit.

What’s the thinking behind this being a voluntary role, rather than a paid role? I suppose I’m
thinking that this immediately skews the volunteer population.

Do you have a link to your old AMA that we can read through, @NewWinger ? I'm interested.