Magistrates listen carefully to everything said in court to determine the truth and decide if a defendant is guilty or innocent. Their choices include fining individuals, requiring alcohol/drug treatment, or job training classes. Magistrates can also send defendants to prison. No qualifications are required to become a magistrate, as full training is provided. Magistrates are volunteers and do not receive payment. Desired qualities include maturity, sound judgement, good character, social awareness, understanding, and communication skills. Magistrates must be between 18 and 70 years old and cannot have a criminal record or work in jobs like policing that could compromise impartiality. Magistrates deal with less serious crimes like theft, vandalism, fighting, public

1. Lay Magistrates
Halima Hussain

2. What do magistrates do
in court?
Everything that is said in court, magistrates listen to it very carefully and take it
into mind. Once that is done, they have to then decide who is telling the truth
and whether they think the defendant is guilty or innocent. There are a number
of choices:
1. Magistrates can fine someone which means that the individual would have
to pay some money to the court, also they would get put on tag, this means
it would stop them from going out at night.
2. If they are addicted to alcohol or drugs, they would get asked to attend a
clinic to help them.
3. Attend classes to help them prepare or train for work.
4. May even send them to prison.

3. What do you need to
become a Magistrate?
https://www.gov.uk/become-magistrate/can-you-be-a-magistrate
To become a Magistrate you would not be expected to have any
qualifications, all that will be expected is for you to give up some
spare time. Full training would be provided for the role and when it
comes to questions about the law, help would also be provided by a
legal advisor.

4. Do magistrates get
paid?
https://www.gov.uk/become-magistrate/can-you-be-a-magistrate
Individuals who apply for a role as a magistrate are volunteers, and they
hear cases in courts within their community.

5. Qualities expected
from a Magistrate?
Maturity and sound temperament
Sound judgement
Good character
Social awareness
Understanding and communication
http://www.how2become.com/competencies/personal-qualities-and-attributes-
of-a-magistrate/

6. Magistrate key qualities
You tube Video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1UlobbDtik

7. How to become a Magistrate?
If you want to become a magistrate there are different ways for
you to apply.
You can visit your local
court to check if the role
suits you.
When wanting to apply,
you need to apply to the
advisory committee.
If you want information on
recruitment in your area, the
local advisory should be
contacted.
If you have finally decided you
want to take part in the
magistrates then you can
download an application form
from the Gov website.
http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/about-the-judiciary/judges-career-
paths/becoming-a-magistrate/

8. What age do you have to
be to become a Magistrate?
http://www.findlaw.co.uk/law/criminal/criminal_courts/8037.html
 Magistrates have to be 18 to the age of 65
 The retiring age for magistrates is 70
Who can not sit the role
of being a Magistrate?
Police officers, armed forces and also traffic wardens can
not sit the role of becoming a magistrate. The reason for this
is, is to make sure that magistrates are impartial.
 Not only people with job roles as the above, but also
individuals who have a criminal record.
http://www.inbrief.co.uk/legal-system/lay-magistrates-juries.htm

9. What are you going to get out of
being a magistrate?
Skills
Experience
Understanding
Making a difference
Hughes. Ben(2014)
Engaging – appealing – different communities

10. What sort of cases do magistrates
deal with?
http://www.inbrief.co.uk/legal-system/lay-magistrates-juries.htm
Magistrates deal with crimes that are less serious, such as:
 Stealing a bike
 Breaking a window
Fighting
Being very drunk
Driving a car through a red traffic light

11. What type of courts are there?
https://www.gov.uk/courts/magistrates-courts
For young people some magistrates sit in special courts for young
people under 18 called Youth Courts. This is where the magistrates
have a different way of dealing with individuals when they have got into
trouble.
Family courts are also there, and this is to help people sort out family
problems. The type of problems would be:
• When families split up
•Parents argue about where
their children live or go to educate

12. Bibliography
http://www.how2become.com/competencies/personal-qualities-and-attributes-
of-a-magistrate
http://www.inbrief.co.uk/legal-system/lay-magistrates-juries.htm
http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/about-the-judiciary/judges-career-paths/
becoming-a-magistrate/
https://www.gov.uk/become-magistrate/can-you-be-a-magistrate
https://www.gov.uk/courts/magistrates-courts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1UlobbDtik
Hughes. Ben(2014)