The JAC has been asked to identify 54 candidates to recommend for the post of Salaried Judge of the Employment Tribunal. Vacancies are across all regions in England and Wales and the salary is £108,171 a year. Additionally, posts in London attract a salary lead of £2,000 a year and a London Allowance of £2,000 a year.
This selection exercise is expected to launch at 13:00 on 19 June, closing for applications at 13:00 on 3 July.
Who can apply
Previous judicial experience is not required. You are eligible to apply if you have 5 years post qualification legal experience as:
- a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales;
- a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives;
- an advocate or solicitor in Scotland; or
- a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland or a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland
In addition, the Lord Chancellor expects candidates to have current or previous substantial experience of Employment Law and to be able to offer a reasonable length of service, usually of 5 years, before the statutory retirement age of 70.
The Commission encourages diversity and welcomes applications from groups currently under represented in the judiciary. The principles of fair and open competition will apply and recommendation for appointment will be made solely on merit.
About the role
Employment Judges preside over Employment Tribunals, the jurisdiction of which involves a wide range of employment-based disputes or issues involving claims against employers, individuals, trade unions, professional and regulatory bodies. There are currently more than 90 different causes of action that can be brought to the Employment Tribunal. A substantial number of claims include allegations of unfair or wrongful dismissal, unlawful discrimination, breach of contract, unlawful deductions from wages, transfer of undertakings and public interest disclosure.
An Employment Tribunal may consist of an Employment Judge and two non-legal members; one from the employee panel and one from the employer panel. Employment Judges can also sit without non-legal members in preliminary hearings and in certain types of claims. The length of hearings varies considerably. Short track claims often require hearings of only 1 to 3 hours duration; standard track claims often require hearings of 1 to 3 days; while open track cases and the more complex standard track claims can take longer.
Employment Judges sit throughout England and Wales, currently in 10 Regional Offices and 28 or more hearing centres and ad hoc hearing venues. They will be assigned by the President to sit in a particular Employment Tribunal Region. They may sit principally at one office or hearing centre in the region, but must sit anywhere in the region when called upon to do so. They may also be required, from time to time, to sit outside the assigned Employment Tribunal Region by the President when such a need arises.
Salaried part-time work may be accommodated at a minimum of 50% in blocks of at least 4 weeks at a time; part weeks cannot be accommodated due to the length and complexity of cases.
Preparing your application
Throughout the selection process, candidates will be assessed against a competency framework specifically tailored to the role of a Salaried Judge of the Employment Tribunal. The competencies are aligned to the Judicial Skills and Abilities framework used by the judiciary and Judicial College, and lists the ways in which a person demonstrates the required skills and abilities when working effectively in post.
As part of your application you will be required to provide, in no more than 250 words per competency, specific examples that demonstrate how your experiences make you suitable for the role. Further information on completing the self-assessment and choosing the best examples is on the JAC website. You are advised to start preparing your examples in advance, putting aside sufficient time to develop relevant examples that demonstrate your suitability for the post.
You can also create an online account before you apply. The JAC's online application system requires all candidates to create an account before applying for judicial office. Your account will include your personal, character and diversity profiles. This information is stored on the system so, if you apply for another position in the future, you only need to update your details making the application process quicker and easier.
About the process
Following submission of your application, all candidates will be invited to sit an online qualifying test. The most meritorious candidates will then proceed to a selection day comprising a competency based interview and situational questions. The provisional dates for the key stages of the process are:
Launch: 19 June 2018
Closing date: 3 July 2018
Qualifying test: 17 July 2018
Selection days: 10 to 18 October 2018
Outcomes: January 2019
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