what is a judge like as a person

[theoldgirl]

Anyone know any judges? I'm wondering what their personality types are? Are they status driven and arrogant? Or sincere social activists? How do you get to be a district or county or high court judge? How do you get to be a barrister?

belle, snap, I sent DS1 to an excellent private school for his A levels and am hoping that may help him.
Don't say you are too old though, I was in my late 20's when I went into law and know a lot of people who were much older.
Have you thought about outdoor clerking/paralegal work? DS has done a few bits for lawyers I know, ie sit behinds, cons with counsel and we are thinking of him doing it during his gap year. Worth a thought. When I googled I found quite a few agencies that would take on graduates with a law degree

It's the illness, it's a PITA. I did work as a legal assistant for all of three months, only job I was ever fired from. I started, no induction, didn't know who I was working for, left to do alot of photocopying, spent all day 9-3 by myself with not alot to do, then the woman I was supposto help would turn up, move files around then moan at me for not looking after them, she'd expect everything to be done in 2 hours (after spending 6 hours doing naff all it's bloody difficult) she'd want loads of stuff done. The woman who I should also have been working with was evil, she wouldn't let me do anything as it was 'quicker for her to do it herself'. I ended up sending an office email asking for work I was so bored, then they sacked me for having a bad 'work attitude'
I could do some work experience, cash is tight though.

I think we both worked for the same person

God, it was a nightmare. They advertised my job a few months after, with a pay rise and a quote saying they would never ask any graduate to do the photocopying, it made me want to bash my head against the wall. I started paeds nurse training straight away, I jumped into it so I could pay ds's school fees. It was OK,I became ill though. I'm a bit stuck now to be honest, I tried state ed for ds last year, he's years ahead (always has been), socially inept so the perfect bully magnet. I live to pay his fees, never had a real holiday. I'll have to see where the writing takes me, there's no jobs here that I can see. I could do work from home, I need to find something that I am qualified to do though.

How did you end up working for yourself?

I, unfortunately, have had four years experience of Judges within the family court system.

I would say that we have had one exceptional judge of outstanding intellect with amazing recall of the facts of the numerous bundles in the case and another who employed common sense with a small dose of humanity.

As for the rest, well I still harbour murderous thoughts towards whoever it was decided that indecisive, bullying, shouting old men who will not even let you put your side to the court because you have committed the sin of being unable to afford representation are suitable people to pass judgement and decide the future of vulnerable children. They are meant to be the safety net for the child, not just lazily rubber stamp anything CAFCASS says.

The first Judge I referred to challenged CAFCASS regularly and their local Manager told me their workers were afraid of him and accordingly produced more balanced, diligently worked upon reports. Despite this fear, she said he was a great loss to Family justice when he was moved from the area.

I have little faith in the secret family courts and you must be aware when setting off on the path of litigant in person, that the partner without residence will get contact in all but the most extreme circumstances.

All children have a right to contact with both their parents, but when a child insists that person has hurt them and they are told by the Judge that their word cannot be taken as the truth because they are too young is a disgrace to the family justice system.

Sorry for this rant, I just wanted to be as horribly frank as I could be.