There are 2 roles available for this volunteering opportunity.
Closing date for either application is 30th November.
There are some pre-requisites that need to be fulfilled before submitting an application.
Role 1: Adult Criminal Court Magistrate
Job Type: Voluntary. Magistrates do not get paid but are able to claim expenses. If a magistrate is already in paid employment it is good practice for employers to still pay their staff, however if this is not possible, a basic loss of earnings may be available along with expenses. By Law, employers have an obligation to release staff for public duties, but that should not impinge on their business. Please check with your employer before applying.
Commitment: Minimum 13 days per year, plus 3-5 days training in the 1st year and 1-2 days training per year after that.
Qualifications: None needed but applicants must be aged between 18-65, be able to hear clearly, with or without a hearing aid, & be able to sit & concentrate for long periods of time.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate on application and at interview 6 key qualities: Good Character, Understanding & Communication, Social Awareness, Sound Judgement, Maturity & Sound Temperament, Commitment & Reliability.
Location: Merseyside Adult Criminal Courts in Liverpool QE2, Sefton and Birkenhead
Role: Magistrates in the Criminal Court are advised by a legal advisor during cases and generally sit as a bench of 3. Every criminal case starts in the Magistrates’ court and while more serious cases are referred to Crown Courts for hearing by a judge and jury, magistrates hear trials, remands, bail applications, warrant applications, and decide on sentencing. Typical cases include assaults, domestic violence offences, criminal damage, road traffic, drug offences, drink, and public order offences. Magistrates can give sentences such as fines, unpaid work in the community or prison. Full training is provided, and sittings are arranged up to 6 months in advance to ensure flexibility.
Pre-requisites: Applicants to join the criminal court are now required to:
- attend a Magistrates Court once AND
- carry out the following directed research:
https://www.judiciary.uk/about-the-judiciary/who-are-the-judiciary/judicial-roles/magistrates/
Your visit to court must be in connection with your application. It will not be sufficient to have visited a magistrates’ court for a different reason.
Due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements court observations can be arranged virtually via the Cloud Video Platform (CVP). CVP is a secure digital network that creates a ‘Virtual Courtroom’ in which all parties can attend from any internet-connected video & audio capable computer, laptop, phone or tablet. CVP allows all participants to engage within the virtual courtroom in a similar way to the physical courtroom. Please email to arrange a suitable date, if you need to do this to facilitate the court observation.
Closing date: 30th November 2020
For more information please visit www.gov.uk/become-magistrate
Role 2: Family Court Magistrate
Job Type: Voluntary. Magistrates do not get paid but are able to claim expenses. If a magistrate is already in paid employment it is good practice for employers to still pay their staff, however if this is not possible, a basic loss of earnings may be available along with expenses. By Law, employers have an obligation to release staff for public duties, but that should not impinge on their business. Please check with your employer before applying.
Commitment: Minimum 13 days per year, plus 3-5 days training in the 1st year and 1-2 days training per year after that.
Qualifications: None needed but applicants must be aged between 18-65, be able to hear clearly, with or without a hearing aid, & be able to sit & concentrate for long periods of time.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate on application and at interview 6 key qualities: Good Character, Understanding & Communication, Social Awareness, Sound Judgement, Maturity & Sound Temperament, Commitment & Reliability.
Location: Merseyside Family Court is based in Vernon St, Liverpool.
Role: Magistrates in the Family Court are advised by a Family Court Legal Advisor, the Children & Family Court Advisory Service (CAFCASS) and the child’s guardian during cases and sit as a bench of 3. The court deals with a variety of cases relating to children, child protection, family breakdown and related issues and involve decisions that try to keep children safe and to protect them from harm. Family Magistrates can:
- arrange for a child to be taken into care or put up for adoption
- help separated parents make arrangements for their children
- enforce child maintenance orders
- make court orders to prevent domestic abuse
Family Magistrates are part of a team which aims to create family environments and resolve family disputes in ways that allow children to grow, to thrive, and hopefully, to achieve their full potential. You do not need any legal, or social work qualifications or experience (although these would be welcome). Full training is provided, and sittings are arranged up to 6 months in advance to ensure flexibility.
Pre-requisites: Family Courts are ‘closed courts’ – they are not open to the public so it will not be possible for you to visit and observe a court. Instead you are required to familiarise yourself with publicly available information about the family court to ensure that the role is right for you. There is a link within the guidance notes which will take you to the available material which can be viewed on the website at :
www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-magistrate-application-form-guidance-notes
Closing date: 30th November 2020 For more information please visit www.gov.uk/become-magistrate
