Lisa is a fundraising manager from North East Derbyshire. She has been a magistrate for the last 12 years and wants to make a difference to her local community both in her professional and voluntary roles. Here she shares her experience of the role and encourages others to apply.
The question everyone asks me when I tell them I’m a magistrate is what made me first apply. Each time the answer is easy: because I wanted to serve my community and, as someone of black Caribbean heritage, I want to ensure people like me are represented. I’ve continued with the role for over a decade because it’s incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.
Diversity in the magistracy
Sometimes people are concerned about applying for the role because they think you need legal training, or that only a certain type of person would be accepted. This isn’t the case. My fellow magistrates and I want to see the Bench better reflect the diverse communities which make Britain what it is today.
Representation is very important. It’s good for people to see themselves represented on the bench. At the end of the day, we are there to uphold the law, and I hope that by offenders seeing someone who looks like them, it will help them have confidence in the justice system.
Data on the diversity of the current magistracy in England and Wales over the last five years shows an increase in magistrates from underrepresented groups, including people under 50 (currently 18% of the local judiciary) and people from an ethnic minority background (13%)*. There’s still further to go, which is why we need to see people from a wide range of backgrounds becoming magistrates. Applications are open in many regions now.
Magistrates come from all different backgrounds and with very different education levels. I was raised by a single mother and brought up on a council estate. I left school with minimal GCSEs and went straight into the workforce. I didn’t go into higher education as it wasn’t the right fit for me. I think my upbringing is an asset to the magistrate’s bench; I know how hard things can be and I have understanding and empathy for the people who come before us.
Why I love the role
Being a magistrate is a part-time voluntary role that can fit around other working commitments. Through the role I have learnt new skills that have helped me in my personal and professional life: from public speaking to team work, and from communicating with people from completely different backgrounds to critical thinking. I would recommend being a magistrate to everyone.
Another great positive is meeting all the other magistrates and working together. Magistrates work closely in groups of three with a legal advisor, who offers guidance on the law, so there is always help on hand.
It is fulfilling but it’s not always a walk in the park. Sometimes coming to a decision can be tough so you need to keep an open mind and honest approach. Despite the challenges, you know the work you’re doing is making a difference; you’re making decisions which help keep your community safe and improve the lives of local people.
Thinking of applying?
Anyone aged between 18 and 70 who can commit to at least 13 days a year for at least five years is encouraged to come forward. You don’t need legal qualifications or a degree as you’ll be given thorough training and ongoing support to help make decisions on cases in the criminal or family court.
As part of the application to sit in the criminal court, applicants are required to observe at least two magistrates’ sittings in court. This is an opportunity to learn more about the role and see magistrates in action. Hearings deal with a range of offences, from less serious crimes, such as speeding and criminal damage to much more serious offences, including robbery.
Family court hearings are heard in private so public observations are not possible. I’d still recommend you try to observe a criminal court sitting as it will help give you a flavour of what the role is like. To apply to sit in the family court, applicants must complete research exploring what it’s like being a family court magistrate. They make decisions that affect vulnerable children, such as enforcing child maintenance orders and protecting children subject to significant harm, so they move to a safe environment.
This year the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary of England and Wales are seeking to boost the number of magistrates by 2,000. You could be a part of this new wave of volunteers. Visit icanbeamagistrate.co.uk for more information.
Image Credit: Geoffrey Moffett on Unsplash
