The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) will be launching a selection exercise in June 2023. to recruit fee-paid Recorders.
The seminar
A seminar will take place online via Microsoft Teams on Thursday 8 June from 5pm – 6pm for those interested in applying for appointment as a fee-paid Recorder.
The seminar aims to help applicants be better prepared to make an application and to receive guidance and advice on the JAC’s selection process. Attendees will include a Recorder and a representative from the JAC.
Who should attend?
The competition will be open to candidates who do not have previous judicial experience.
Seven years’ legal post qualification experience is needed.
Applications are particularly encouraged from women, ethnic minority lawyers, disabled lawyers and solicitors who are currently under represented within the judiciary.
Overview of the role
The statutory jurisdiction of a Recorder is similar to that of a Circuit Judge. Recorders are required to read and assimilate case papers before a hearing or trial commences and play an active role in case management. Recorders control the manner in which cases are conducted and decide issues of law and procedure that may arise during a case and provide reasons for any ruling.
The main activities of a Recorder are as follows:
- Preparing for Trial and Case Management in the Crown Court, County Courts and Family Court
- Presiding over Court Hearings
- Deciding Appeals
- Other Duties include, for example:
- Determining any necessary paper applications
- When your own Court schedule permits, assisting other Judges with hearings and paper applications.
- Assessing costs and reviewing detailed assessments.
Location and jurisdiction
Recorders are appointed nationally; they are assigned by the Lord Chief Justice to a Circuit within England and Wales.
Candidates for posts in Wales need to have an understanding, or the ability to acquire the understanding, of the administration of justice in Wales, including legislation applicable to Wales and Welsh devolution arrangements.
It may be helpful for those interested in becoming Recorders to know the deployment principles that recommendations are based on:
- The merit order of candidates
- The breakdown of requirements provided by HMCTS
- The ranked location preferences provided by the candidates
- The candidates’ home addresses
Therefore, unless there are exceptional circumstances, the most meritorious candidates will be given their first preference for jurisdiction and location until the HMCTS requirements have been met. Candidates should consider jurisdiction and location carefully when ranking Location or jurisdiction when they apply.
In some circumstances an offer of appointment may be made to a location and/or jurisdiction that a candidate has not ranked on application due to all HMCTS requirements already being met on their preferred location or jurisdiction
Seminar
If you have any queries regarding the seminar or would like to ask a question to the panel, then please email: JudicialHRDiversityEvents@judiciary.uk