Want to become a judge? start preparing two years in advance, solicitors advised

Former judicial appointments commissioner stresses preparation time for solicitors aiming to become judges

Solicitors aspiring to become judges should prepare for 18 months to two years before applying, according to Sarah Lee, a former judicial appointments commissioner. Lee, who also served as a partner at Slaughter and May, highlighted that solicitors bring valuable skills to the bench, including strategic thinking, communication expertise, and broad legal knowledge.

Despite representing 52% of applicants for judicial roles in 2023-24, solicitors only made up 32% of recommendations for appointment. In contrast, barristers represented 40% of recommendations.

Lee explained that many applicants fail to fully understand the demands of the role, which is why preparation is crucial. Solicitors are advised to engage with judicial candidate support schemes, observe judges in action, and collect evidence of their competencies in line with the Judicial Appointments Commission’s frameworks.

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Additional advice included avoiding jargon and providing concrete examples of relevant experience. Lee encouraged first-time applicants to consider applying for entry-level judicial roles, such as fee-paid positions, to gain experience before aiming for more senior appointments