Opening pathways to judicial appointment: Insights and support for applicants
A seminar from the Judicial Office in partnership with the Black Solicitors Network
Solicitors and legal professionals are warmly invited to join this online seminar designed to support those considering a future judicial career.
The session will focus on lived experience of routes into the judiciary, alongside pracitcal information about the support available to help you prepare for judicial appointment.
The Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy aims to encourage talented legal professionals from a wide range of personal and professional backgrounds to consider a judicial career, and to feel confident that they will thrive within the judiciary. In that context, this seminar may be of particular interest to Black legal professionals, although all are welcome to attend.
The emphasis of this session will be on the support systems available to those who are exploring a future judicial role, as well as those who are already beginning to engage with the application and interview process.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions, and we hope to address as many as possible towards the end of the seminar.
The Panel
This session will be introduced by Placida Ojinnaka, Black Solicitors Network, Director.
HHJ Adenike Balogun
HHJ Balogun was appointed a Criminal Circuit Judge in October 2023. She was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 1992 and was appointed a Chairman of the Employment Tribunal in 2003, a salaried Employment Judge in 2009, and a Recorder in 2022.
Judge Balogun is a member of the Diversity Committee of the Judges’ Council and is Lead for its Race Working Group.
District Tribunal Judge Kishma Bolaji
District Tribunal Judge Bolaji was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 2009. She was appointed as a fee-paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal in 2025 and, in 2026, was appointed to a salaried judicial role in the Social Entitlement Chamber.
Alongside her judicial work, Judge Bolaji has extensive experience as a clinical negligence solicitor and is a co-founder of Birmingham Black Lawyers, a network supporting diversity and progression within the legal profession.
From the Judicial Appointments Commission
Sarah Lee, JAC Targeted Outreach Scheme
Sarah qualified as a solicitor after studying law at the University of Birmingham. She was a partner at Slaughter and May from 1999 to 2020, where she was Head of the Dispute and Investigations Group and held a number of leadership roles, including on the Partnership Board and as the firm’s first partner responsible for diversity and inclusion. She was a Lay Commissioner of the Judicial Appointments Commission from 2018 to 2024 and continues to support its Targeted Outreach Programme. Sarah is currently Vice Chair of the Independent Press Standards Organisation and holds a number of non-executive and trustee roles, including at the University of Birmingham, Rare Recruitment and the Cripplegate Foundation
United Kingdom