The JAC has been asked to identify one candidate to recommend for the post of Senior Circuit Judge, Designated Civil Judge. This selection exercise is expected to launch on 15 May, closing for applications on 29 May.
Who can apply
This exercise is open to:
- Circuit Judges
- Solicitors and Barristers in England and Wales with at least seven years post qualification legal experience
- Recorders and
- those who have held, as a full-time appointment for at least 3 years, one of the offices listed in Part 1A of Schedule 2 to the Courts Act 1971
In addition, candidates should be able to offer a reasonable length of service, usually of 3 years, before the statutory retirement age of 70.
The Lord Chancellor also expects that candidates for salaried posts will have sufficient directly relevant experience sitting as a judge in a salaried capacity, or in a fee-paid capacity having completed 30 sitting days at the point of application. Only in exceptional cases and if the candidate in question has demonstrated the necessary skills in some other significant way should an exception be made.
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
The Designated Civil Judge for London carries out significant leadership and management duties. Among other things the post holder is responsible for allocating the non-specialist civil County Court and Queen's Bench Division case management work between over 60 District Judges; shares the work of the Business and Property Courts (including appeals) with the specialist circuit judges; and manages all appeals from interim orders made by District Judges sitting in the Queen's Bench Division.
As well as carrying out these duties, the Designated Civil Judge is expected to carry out the full duties of a Circuit Judge and to try the most significant, demanding or specialist cases.
This post may be suitable for salaried part-time work at a minimum of 80% in blocks of at least 6 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 Senior Circuit Judge, Designated Civil Judge. 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.
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