Application guidance

You must apply to sit in an area local to where you live or work, whether that’s for the family court or criminal court.  
 
If your area isn’t currently recruiting, you can register your interest to be the first to hear when vacancies in your area open up. If your area is not yet live, please take this opportunity to complete the required magistrate court observations or research before applying. 
 
You can find details of planned upcoming recruitment campaigns in our Advisory Committee Recruitment Plan.  

The application form

All applications must be completed online apart from in exceptional circumstances. If required, you can request a hard copy or braille versions by contacting your local Advisory Committee. 
 
The application form will ask: 

Personal information questions, such as your name, address, date of birth and contact details.
Preliminary questions. These include – How did you find out about the vacancy? What area are you applying to? If applying in Wales, do you speak Welsh and are you able to meet the Welsh language requirements?
Eligibility questions. These will cover things like your age, where you permanently live, are you in the process of, or intending to, seek asylum or apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK? Can you commit to 5 years’ service? Have you applied in the last 2 years? You’ll also be asked to give details of your two magistrate court observations. You can find out more in the eligibility section of our FAQs.
Employment questions. These include declaring your/your spouse or partner’s current occupation and occupation(s) in the last 5 years, and whether you currently do any other type of voluntary work/activity.
Character questions. These include providing details of any Fixed Penalty Notice, past or present convictions/cautions/motor offences/bankruptcy proceedings. Has a spouse, partner, close family member or close friend received convictions or cautions which could affect your application to become a magistrate? Is there anything else in your private or working life, past or present, which could damage your credibility as a magistrate if it became known to the public?
Additional information, such as reasonable adjustments and references.
Diversity monitoring questions

You should make your application online.

If required, you can request a hard copy or braille versions by contacting your local Advisory Committee.

The application form will ask:

Personal information questions, such as your name, address, date of birth and contact details.
Preliminary questions. These include – How did you find out about the vacancy? What area are you applying to? Which family panel are you applying to? If applying in Wales, do you speak Welsh and are you able to meet the Welsh language requirements?
Eligibility questions. These will cover things like your age, where you permanently live, are you in the process of, or intending to, seek asylum or apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK? Are you in the process of obtaining a divorce? Are you currently or about to be involved in court proceedings relating to any child under the age of 18? Can you commit to 5 years’ service? Have you applied in the last 2 years? You’ll also be asked to give details of your research on the family magistrate role. You can find out more in the eligibility section of our FAQs.
Employment questions. These include declaring your/your spouse or partner’s current occupation and occupation(s) in the last 5 years, and whether you currently do any other type of voluntary work/activity.
Character questions. These include providing details of any Fixed Penalty Notice, past or present convictions/cautions/motor offences/bankruptcy proceedings. Has a spouse, partner, close family member or close friend received convictions or cautions which could affect your application to become a magistrate? Is there anything else in your private or working life, past or present, which could damage your credibility as a magistrate if it became known to the public?
Additional information, such as reasonable adjustments and references.
Diversity monitoring questions

Throughout the application process, including the qualifying assessment and interview, you will be assessed against the five key attributes: 

• Understand and appreciate different perspectives 
• Make fair, impartial and transparent decisions
• Communicate with sensitivity and respect 
• Show self-awareness and be open to learning 
• Work and engage with people professionally 

More information on these attributes can be found in our FAQs

When you apply, you’ll be asked to provide the names of two referees. These can be work or personal references, but they should be from someone who knows you well.  
If you are employed, one reference must be from your manager or employer. Further information and employer advice is available which can help you to start the conversation with your employer.  
 
Your referees will be asked whether they would recommend you to be appointed as a magistrate, and whether they have any concerns or comments about your suitability. If they’re your employer, they’ll be asked to confirm that they’ll support you in undertaking the role, including by granting time off work where necessary. It’s important to make sure your referees can meet the timeframe.
 
If you pass the initial sift stage, the Advisory Committee will contact your referees and ask them to provide a reference by a set date. 
 
It’s your responsibility to make sure the people you intend to nominate are willing and able to provide a reference within the timeframe required. 
 
If your referees don’t complete the reference in time your application will not be able to proceed. 
 
We recommend informing your chosen referees in advance so that they’re able to return the form on time.

Please note, when choosing your referees: 

• If you’re in employment, one of your referees must be from your manager or employer. 
• You must have known your referees for at least three years (unless the referee is your employer and you’ve worked there less than three years). 
• You can’t nominate a relative or anyone you’re currently living with.  
• If you’ve lived in the area you’re applying to sit in for at least three years, one of your referees must live in the same area. 
• Don’t nominate a referee who might appear before the courts in which you’d serve – for example, a police officer from the same area.  
• You can nominate a magistrate or judicial office holder (but only one) as a referee. 
• If you’re applying for a Welsh-speaking role, your referee should also be able to advise whether you’re sufficiently fluent in Welsh to meet the role requirements. 

Information provided by a referee is confidential.

Details of the contents of references will not be disclosed to applicants.

If you’re successful in the online application form, you’ll be invited to interview. You’ll receive an email with a choice of interview slots and asked to book the time and day that suits you best. 
 
You’ll be informed of the outcome of the interview via email as soon as possible following the interview. 
 
The interview – what to expect   
Interviews will be carried out by a panel of two to three people, which will be made up of both magistrate and non-magistrate Advisory Committee members. 
 
You can expect the interview to last around 75 minutes. 
 
The interview panel won’t have access to your application form. They won’t know any information about you, other than your name and what you tell them in the interview.
  
Preparing for your interview

It will be helpful for you to have done your research by reading any resources on the role of a magistrate, as well as thinking back to the court observations you’ll have completed if you’re applying for criminal court. Reflect on the attributes required for the role and how you can demonstrate them.   
 
Please think carefully about your answers to the questions. You should structure them using the Problem Action Result method, as explained below:

• Problem. Describe the specific event or situation where a problem arose. This should include a short description to set the context and details of the problem that occurred. 
• Action. Explain how you displayed the relevant behaviours and understanding. What did you do? How did you do it? Why did you do it that way? What skills did you use? 
• Result. Summarise the results of your actions. What was the outcome? What did you learn? 

You can take time to consider your answer before you speak. You must answer to the best of your ability, honestly, and include why you would respond in the way you think is best. The interview panel may ask follow-up questions, and probe further on your answers.

Interview format 
Interviews will usually be conducted remotely using video technology via Microsoft Teams. You can request for it to be conducted in person. This can be done by contacting your local Advisory Committee after you’ve been invited to interview.

Unfortunately, not all applicants will be successful. We appreciate that this can be disappointing, so all who reach the interview stage are welcome to request feedback. 
 
You may also ask for this decision to be reviewed by the recruiting Advisory Committee. However, this will only be considered if you have reason to believe that the selection process has been misapplied or that a member of the interview panel behaved inappropriately. 
 
If you decide to request a review, you must first request feedback, and then state clearly and succinctly your grounds for doing so. It’s not enough to say that you disagree with the decision. The advisory committee you applied to will provide you with feedback from your interview within 30 working days of you requesting it. You must then request a review of the decision within 15 days of receipt of feedback.

If you believe you have grounds for an appeal, you’ll need to:

• Request feedback from the Advisory Committee you applied for.
• You will be emailed a link to an appeals form and will have 15 days from receipt of the feedback to apply for an appeal of the decision. 
• Wait for the Advisory Committee to review and respond.

PLEASE NOTE: There is no right of appeal for candidates who didn’t progress to the interview stage or who are assessed as appointable but are not recommended due to others scoring higher. However, if you do make it to interview stage and are assessed as appointable, you may be asked whether you would consider sitting in an alternate jurisdiction, criminal or family, if there are vacancies at the time of the recruitment process.