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Want to be a judge? Ben Berkson and Olivia Mukherjee report from a Gray’s Inn event on the Northern Circuit where judges shared advice with juniors interested in applying for a judicial role
On 12 March 2025, Gray’s Inn held a panel event for those with judicial aspirations, hosted by Byrom Street Chambers in Manchester.
The panel comprised: HHJ Abigail Hudson (Circuit Judge, Bolton Crown Court), who has a host of judicial appointments to her name, and currently sits on the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) panel; Andrew Singer KC (King’s Chambers, Manchester), who sits as a Recorder in the County Court and part-time as a judge in the Technology and Construction Court; and Mary Ruck KC (Byrom Street Chambers, Manchester), a First-Tier Tribunal Judge to the Health and Social Care Chamber (sitting in Mental Health and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)).
Olivia steered their insights as chair in a Q&A format. Here’s what we learned...
Individual roles have qualifying criteria. For some people it will be important to concentrate on building a practice first which, in turn, is likely to impact the type of judicial post you might wish to apply for. For instance, a barrister starting out with a mixed practice may after five to 10 years have specialised in crime which would lend to a criminal Recorder position.
There was a diversity of approaches to seeking a post, all equally valid. HHJ Hudson, for example, identified in Year 9 at school that she wanted to be a judge; she secured her first tribunal judge position at just five years’ call and became a Recorder at seven years’ call (the youngest ever person at the time), highlighting that there are candidates who should not feel handcuffed by unwritten rules on when to apply, nor take heed of well-meaning advice that they are ‘too young’.
Mary applied at someone else’s gentle nudge and because she saw a judicial role as being a useful adjunct to her practice; it was 10 years between her first appointment in mental health before being ‘cross-ticketed’ to SEND, to a position that she felt supported her practice, her family’s experiences and her own core values;
Andrew took on the challenges of both his first judicial role and taking silk within a short space of time.
The JAC website is a good place to start (judicialappointments.gov.uk). It is user-friendly and lists current vacancies on a rolling basis. Much has been done in recent years to give plenty of information to potential applicants on the selection process, with valuable advice on how to prepare for what can be a thorough and taxing process.
Importantly, there are other tribunals and posts in a variety of areas that should attract those seeking examples to evidence an application for a judicial post. Examples raised at the event included the General Medical Council and the range of disciplinary tribunals in the sporting world.
Despite vastly more information being available online compared to the past, colleagues still remain a good source of information and advice.
The process for any particular vacancy is identified on the JAC website. Selection is usually via an application form addressing evidence-based competencies, classic examples being the ability to assimilate and clarify information, exercise judgment, working/communicating with others. There can be online tests and in-person selection (including role-play and interview). Once in one judicial post, there are opportunities to be ‘cross-ticketed’ to other judicial roles. Key tips were:
The balance must be towards legal-based evidence, but all the speakers agreed that it can be good to accrue evidence from outside legal practice as well as from within, as it helps to show yourself as a well-rounded individual who understands real life.
Anecdotal examples included negotiation between warring siblings during childcare and, in her role on the JAC panel, HHJ Hudson had seen an example from flipping houses! Also:
The JAC utilises the SOAR structure when evaluating an application (Situation, Objective, Action and Result). Different points are awarded to each of the four areas. They are weighted. Action accrues the most points, clearly demonstrating that JAC selectors value how an applicant can evidence the required competencies in personal way.
Referring simply to cliché, legalese and so-called ‘buzzwords’ (e.g. transgender issues, ethnic diversity) are likely to get you nowhere unless they are accompanied by targeted evidence on how the example given directly demonstrates the competency in question. The fact that someone is autistic in a particular scenario is not of direct relevance: how the applicant altered their approach to meet that person’s needs and facilitate their participation in a hearing i.e. what you did is what is key.
The written application and interview are no easy ride. Failure is par for the course in an ultra-competitive process where there are a finite number of prized appointments awaiting successful applicants. However:
Time was spent looking at the fears or challenges people may have if they are considering applying for a judicial post (in particular, a post which dovetails with the day job as a barrister). A Recorder or tribunal judge will sit for at least six weeks of the year. The sitting requirement for tribunal judges is commonly 30 days a year (per post). Having taken a break from the Bar over the course of about eight years, HHJ Hudson was a ‘portfolio judge’, with eight (yes, eight!) part-time fee-paid judicial posts, showing the breadth of options available in the judiciary and the flexibility these posts can offer.
Mary’s perspective was that a busy practice at the Bar means that meeting the minimum sitting requirements can be hard. Her availability for tribunal sittings is given in advance, with little flexibility once booked, so it requires considerable diary management. However, there can be the opportunity to offer further sitting days if, for example, a trial goes short.
Addressing other potential fears, our panel said:
As a light-hearted end, the panel were asked for the top three skills they believe to be useful for a judge. There was some overlap in the panel’s answers which was a nice consistency to note:
Those leaving the talk with that advice ringing in their ears had a spring in their step that the judicial appointment process is not a completely daunting and unattainable experience. It must be remembered that the collegiate nature of your Inn, Circuit and one’s own chambers are all resources any aspiring judge should grab with both hands.
The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) provides information, advice and support for prospective applicants on judicialappointments.gov.uk. The JAC also runs a targeted outreach programme. Note: selection exercises launching from October 2025 will include the new Judicial Skills and Abilities Framework (JSAF).
Other sources of advice for those seeking judicial appointments include:
Ben Berkson is a criminal law tenant at Exchange Chambers in Liverpool. He is also a Northern Circuit Representative of the Gray’s Inn Barrister Committee.
Olivia Mukherjee is a tenant at Deans Court Chambers, Manchester. She practises in family law (children) and in Court of Protection work. Olivia is passionate about equality and diversity at, and access to, the Bar.
On 12 March 2025, Gray’s Inn held a panel event for those with judicial aspirations, hosted by Byrom Street Chambers in Manchester.
The panel comprised: HHJ Abigail Hudson (Circuit Judge, Bolton Crown Court), who has a host of judicial appointments to her name, and currently sits on the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) panel; Andrew Singer KC (King’s Chambers, Manchester), who sits as a Recorder in the County Court and part-time as a judge in the Technology and Construction Court; and Mary Ruck KC (Byrom Street Chambers, Manchester), a First-Tier Tribunal Judge to the Health and Social Care Chamber (sitting in Mental Health and Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)).
Olivia steered their insights as chair in a Q&A format. Here’s what we learned...
Individual roles have qualifying criteria. For some people it will be important to concentrate on building a practice first which, in turn, is likely to impact the type of judicial post you might wish to apply for. For instance, a barrister starting out with a mixed practice may after five to 10 years have specialised in crime which would lend to a criminal Recorder position.
There was a diversity of approaches to seeking a post, all equally valid. HHJ Hudson, for example, identified in Year 9 at school that she wanted to be a judge; she secured her first tribunal judge position at just five years’ call and became a Recorder at seven years’ call (the youngest ever person at the time), highlighting that there are candidates who should not feel handcuffed by unwritten rules on when to apply, nor take heed of well-meaning advice that they are ‘too young’.
Mary applied at someone else’s gentle nudge and because she saw a judicial role as being a useful adjunct to her practice; it was 10 years between her first appointment in mental health before being ‘cross-ticketed’ to SEND, to a position that she felt supported her practice, her family’s experiences and her own core values;
Andrew took on the challenges of both his first judicial role and taking silk within a short space of time.
The JAC website is a good place to start (judicialappointments.gov.uk). It is user-friendly and lists current vacancies on a rolling basis. Much has been done in recent years to give plenty of information to potential applicants on the selection process, with valuable advice on how to prepare for what can be a thorough and taxing process.
Importantly, there are other tribunals and posts in a variety of areas that should attract those seeking examples to evidence an application for a judicial post. Examples raised at the event included the General Medical Council and the range of disciplinary tribunals in the sporting world.
Despite vastly more information being available online compared to the past, colleagues still remain a good source of information and advice.
The process for any particular vacancy is identified on the JAC website. Selection is usually via an application form addressing evidence-based competencies, classic examples being the ability to assimilate and clarify information, exercise judgment, working/communicating with others. There can be online tests and in-person selection (including role-play and interview). Once in one judicial post, there are opportunities to be ‘cross-ticketed’ to other judicial roles. Key tips were:
The balance must be towards legal-based evidence, but all the speakers agreed that it can be good to accrue evidence from outside legal practice as well as from within, as it helps to show yourself as a well-rounded individual who understands real life.
Anecdotal examples included negotiation between warring siblings during childcare and, in her role on the JAC panel, HHJ Hudson had seen an example from flipping houses! Also:
The JAC utilises the SOAR structure when evaluating an application (Situation, Objective, Action and Result). Different points are awarded to each of the four areas. They are weighted. Action accrues the most points, clearly demonstrating that JAC selectors value how an applicant can evidence the required competencies in personal way.
Referring simply to cliché, legalese and so-called ‘buzzwords’ (e.g. transgender issues, ethnic diversity) are likely to get you nowhere unless they are accompanied by targeted evidence on how the example given directly demonstrates the competency in question. The fact that someone is autistic in a particular scenario is not of direct relevance: how the applicant altered their approach to meet that person’s needs and facilitate their participation in a hearing i.e. what you did is what is key.
The written application and interview are no easy ride. Failure is par for the course in an ultra-competitive process where there are a finite number of prized appointments awaiting successful applicants. However:
Time was spent looking at the fears or challenges people may have if they are considering applying for a judicial post (in particular, a post which dovetails with the day job as a barrister). A Recorder or tribunal judge will sit for at least six weeks of the year. The sitting requirement for tribunal judges is commonly 30 days a year (per post). Having taken a break from the Bar over the course of about eight years, HHJ Hudson was a ‘portfolio judge’, with eight (yes, eight!) part-time fee-paid judicial posts, showing the breadth of options available in the judiciary and the flexibility these posts can offer.
Mary’s perspective was that a busy practice at the Bar means that meeting the minimum sitting requirements can be hard. Her availability for tribunal sittings is given in advance, with little flexibility once booked, so it requires considerable diary management. However, there can be the opportunity to offer further sitting days if, for example, a trial goes short.
Addressing other potential fears, our panel said:
As a light-hearted end, the panel were asked for the top three skills they believe to be useful for a judge. There was some overlap in the panel’s answers which was a nice consistency to note:
Those leaving the talk with that advice ringing in their ears had a spring in their step that the judicial appointment process is not a completely daunting and unattainable experience. It must be remembered that the collegiate nature of your Inn, Circuit and one’s own chambers are all resources any aspiring judge should grab with both hands.
The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) provides information, advice and support for prospective applicants on judicialappointments.gov.uk. The JAC also runs a targeted outreach programme. Note: selection exercises launching from October 2025 will include the new Judicial Skills and Abilities Framework (JSAF).
Other sources of advice for those seeking judicial appointments include:
Want to be a judge? Ben Berkson and Olivia Mukherjee report from a Gray’s Inn event on the Northern Circuit where judges shared advice with juniors interested in applying for a judicial role
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