This document provides information about lay magistrates, including what they are, the qualifications and responsibilities needed for the role, the types of cases they handle, and how to apply. Lay magistrates are volunteer judges who are not legally qualified but make up 95% of the UK justice system. They preside over a range of cases from theft to assault and can sentence offenders to up to six months in prison or a £5000 fine. The document outlines the application process and stresses that being a magistrate, while voluntary, can improve job prospects and help reduce crime in the local community.

2. INTRODUCTION
• THIS SLIDE SHOW WILL TELL YOU ABOUT
WHAT A LAY MAGISTRATE IS AND ALL
THE THINGS YOU WILL NEED TO BECOME
ONE. ALSO THIS WILL TELL YOU HOW TO
APPLY AND LOTS OF OTHER FACTS.

3. WHAT IS A LAY MAGISTRATE?
• LAY MAGISTRATES ARE JUDGES THAT
MAKE UP AROUND 95% OF THE
JUSTICE SYSTEM. THESE ARE
VOLUNTEERS THAT COME FROM ALL
WALKS OF LIFE. THEY HAVE A LOT OF
RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THEY
ENSURE THAT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
RUNS SMOOTHLY.

4. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
• TO BE A LAY MAGISTRATE YOU NEED TO HAVE SIX
QUALITIES THESE ARE;
• BE AWARE OF SOCIAL ISSUES
• BE MATURE
• RELIABLE
• UNDERSTAND COMPLEX DOCUMENTS
• THINK LOGICALLY
• GOOD CHARACTER

5. WHY BECOME A MAGISTRATE?
• THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS TO BECOME A
MAGISTRATE. THE FIRST REASON IS THAT IT LOOKS
GOOD ON YOUR CV. NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY THEY
HAVE BEEN A MAGISTRATE. THE SECOND IS THAT IT
CAN IMPROVE YOUR JOB PROSPECTS IN THIS AREA.
ALSO YOU GET THE CHANCE TO IMPROVE THE LOCAL
AREA BY REDUCING CRIME.

6. WHAT POWERS DOES A MAGISTRATE HAVE?
• FOR ONE PERSON BEING SENTENCED THEY CAN GIVE
A MAXIMUM OF 6 MONTHS IN PRISON. ALSO THEY
CAN IMPOSE A MAXIMUM OF A £5000 FINE. IF TWO
PEOPLE ARE BEING SENTENCED THIS WOULD
DOUBLE.

7. PERKS OF THE JOB
• EVEN THOUGH YOU DON’T GET
PAID THERE ARE STILL PERKS.
THE MAIN ONE IS THAT ALL
YOUR EXPENSES ARE PAID FOR,
THIS INCLUDES FOOD, BUSES
OR FUEL AND MORE.

8. DIFFERENT CASES YOU COULD BE DOING
• THE CASES RANGE DAY BY DAY BUT THE
CASES CAN RANGE FROM THEFT WHICH IS
THE MORE COMMON CASE, UP TO ASSAULT
AND RAPE. IF THE CASE IS BAD IT CAN BE
PASSED UP TO THE CROWN COURT.

9. LAYOUT OF THE COURT
• THE COURT LAYOUT RANGES BECAUSE OF THE BUILDING
SIZE BUT THIS PICTURE HAS THE BASIC LAYOUT AND
EVERYONE ON THE PICTURE IS WHO YOU WILL SEE. IF
YOU CAN HAVE A LOOK AROUND YOUR LOCAL COURT
BEFORE YOU APPLY.

10. DIFFERENT COURTS
• THERE IS THE MAGISTRATES COURT AND THEN
THERE IS THE YOUTH COURT WHICH DEALS WITH
CRIMES COMMITTED BY UNDER 18. FAMILY COURT
WHICH DEALS WITH FAMILY DISPUTES. AND THE
ADULT COURT WHICH DEALS WITH APPEALS.

11. HOW TO APPLY?
• YOU CAN FIND THE APPLICATION BY EITHER GOING
TO YOUR LOCAL MAGISTRATES COURT AND THEN
ASKING THE COURT USHER. OR YOU CAN GO ONTO
GOOGLE AND TYPE IN LAY MAGISTRATES
APPLICATION FORM.

12. CONCLUSION
• TO CONCLUDE A LAY MAGISTRATE IS A
VOLUNTEER AND CAN COME FROM ALL
WALKS OF LIFE. THEY CAN PRESIDE OVER A
RANGE OF DIFFERENT CASES AND HAVE A
BIG RESPONSIBILITY. A MAGISTRATE IS A
BIG HONOUR AND LOOKS VERY GOOD ON A
CV.