(Joint Seminar) Fee-paid Specialist Members for Mental Health & Special Educational Needs and Disability; First-tier Tribunal Health, Education and Social Care (HESC) – Pre-Application Seminar 2026
To attend, please register at the bottom of this page.
The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) will be launching two selection exercise campaigns in the summer to recruit 50 Fee-paid Specialist Members assigned to the First-tier Tribunal, Health, Education and Social Care Chamber – 25 will be assigned to Mental Health (MH) and 25 assigned to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND).
The seminar
The Judicial Office is organising a joint pre-application seminar for both MH and SEND. The pre-application seminar is for those interested in applying for either or both roles. The joint seminar will take place online via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 13th May (5-6PM).
The seminar aims to help applicants be better prepared to make an application and to receive up-to-date guidance and advice on the JAC’s selection process. As well as a JAC representative, you will also hear from the Deputy Chamber Presidents and two Specialist Members, one from Mental Health and one from Special Educational Needs and Disability.
Who should attend?
You will hear more about the eligibility criteria at the session but to be considered for an MH role you will need to demonstrate knowledge in mental illness/mental disorders and to be considered for a SEND role you will need substantial experience of special educational needs and/or disability.
Applications are particularly welcome from under-represented groups (women, ethnic minority candidates and disabled candidates). Training is provided for all appointed members.
For information on Tribunal members please visit Tribunal Members - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. For information on the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber please visit Health, Education and Social Care Chamber - Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.
What does a specialist lay member do?
The duties of a specialist member include reading and digesting a number of reports (in advance of the hearing) and attending a pre-hearing discussion about the issues to be determined with the panel on the day of the hearing.
Also, to participate fully in the deliberations and decision-making process after the hearing has concluded. This includes contributing to the drafting of the decision, and responding promptly with comments, using secure email when the judge seeks observations on a draft decision.
Further questions
For any queries regarding the pre-application seminar please email - JudicialHROutreachEvents@judiciary.uk
For any queries regarding the recruitment campaign/selection exercises please contact the selection exercise teams SMFTTHESC338@judicialappointments.gov.uk (SEND) or 343SMHESCMH@judicialappointments.gov.uk (Mental Health).
Please note that although the Judicial Office will be running the pre-application seminar, the actual recruitment campaign is being done and led by the Judicial Appointments Commission.
United Kingdom