New Judiciary package will help more solicitors who want to become judges

4 February 2010

The Law Society is hoping a new training and education package will encourage and help more solicitors to become judges.

The aim of this initiative is to create a more diverse judiciary, and to help more solicitors start appointments. This is especially vital as the competition for judicial appointments is increasing.

The new package includes a video with a role-playing exercise prepared with the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) and the Black Solicitors Network. Solicitors who do not spend much of their working lives in a Courtroom or Tribunal have said they would like more help to prepare for the role playing exercise, where the candidate has to play the part of a judge in a simulated case.

There is also a programme of outreach training, where solicitor-judges share their experiences, and detailed and extensive judicial appointments training courses throughout England and Wales.

The Law Society and JAC are working to improve understanding across the solicitors' profession of the opportunities for judicial appointments, and to help employers support solicitors who are interested in becoming a judge.

Baroness Usha Prashar Chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission has agreed to address the Law Society's Firms Diversity Forum on the issue in February. She said it will be an: "excellent opportunity to promote judicial appointments to the larger firms."

Challenging

The Law Society has also set up a mentoring group of solicitor judges so they can help and encourage colleagues as well as a forthcoming 'How to become a judge' booklet to help further demystify the process.

Law Society President Robert Heslett says:

"The Law Society is committed to a solicitor's profession that reflects the society it serves. Such an approach should apply to the judiciary.

"The selection process is undoubtedly challenging for applicants and I hope that the videos will assist candidates to see what is involved in the role play exercise before having to undergo the test themselves on the selection day. We hope this resource will mean talented solicitors are better prepared for the role play exercise and make the process entirely more accessible."

"Many solicitors still feel disadvantaged in the judicial appointments process. There are misconceptions which the Law Society hopes to debunk with this package, including those surrounding the type of references required or the right professional, educational or even social background."