The Steps to Becoming a Judge in the UK

If you want to become a judge in the UK, then you’ll need to plan your career well in advance. As a senior legal role, it takes years of experience and strong qualifications before you can be considered.

Today we’ll be breaking down how to become a judge in the UK and steps you’ll need to take.

The Role of Judges in the UK Legal System

We all know what a judge is – at least in the sense of a courtroom. That said, judges occupy a complex position in the legal system and the role is more nuanced that many outside the legal profession assume.

The legal system is highly specialised and it’s no different for judges. There are supreme court judges, appeals judges, and magistrates, all of which are unique roles with unique responsibilities.

Knowing about these differences is very important if you’re planning to become a judge. Different courts handle very different types of cases, require different types of experience/qualifications, and ultimately make for very different working experiences. All of this to say that before you even start your journey to becoming a judge, make sure to research exactly what kind of judge you want to be.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Judge?

If you want to be a judge you will of course need formal legal training. The only exception to this is for magistrates who are unpaid volunteers working out of a passion for the law or to gain experience for a future legal career.

For most other judicial roles, including crown court, high court, and tribunal, you’ll need significant experience of the legal profession. Before you can even apply you’re expected to have a minimum of five years as a legal professional and be qualified as a solicitor/barrister or chartered legal executive.

To become qualified as a solicitor, you’ll need a law degree and two years of qualifying work experience. After that, you’ll need to pass both parts of the SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Exam) and meet the appropriate character and suitability requirements as determined by the SRA (Solicitors Regulatory Authority).

All told, from layman to judge, you’re looking at about a decade of hard work minimum. Is it really worth all that effort?

Should You Become a Judge?

Deciding whether or not to do any job is, of course, a very personal choice. That said there are some significant pros and cons to way up.

The biggest con is, as we’ve mentioned, just how long it takes to become a judge, not to mention the sheer level of responsibility you have over other people’s lives. If you make mistakes it’s possible to do a lot of damage.

On top of all that, it’s also worth noting that there are professional limitations. For all that becoming a judge can open some doors, it also closes others. Once you’re appointed as a full-time judge, you can’t go back to regular legal practice. It’s a commitment that will define the rest of your career.

On the other hand, judges are extremely well compensated for the time and effort they put it. Judge salaries start at around £101,000 and only go up from there. That is to say the base rate for a judge is six figures, something many other working professionals – even within high paying industries like law and finance – dream of.

But for many, it’s not even about the money – it’s about the importance of holding everyone equally accountable to the law. Being a judge can come with a huge amount of job satisfaction, knowing that the ruling you make can seriously change society for the better.

At the end of the day, before you can really consider becoming a judge, you’ll need to build a successful legal career. That gives you plenty of time to think about whether it’s right for you. If you’re planning to join the legal profession, then make sure to always be looking ahead and considering where you want your career to go next.