Apply to become a magistrate
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Magistrates are volunteers who hear cases in their local courts, and no legal training is needed to apply. Few roles put ordinary judgement to such direct public use.
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How to start
- Read the official page on what magistrates do and who can apply.
- Sit in the public gallery of your local magistrates' court to watch a morning's cases.
- Check when your area is recruiting and prepare your application.
Where to go
We opened this link on 6 October 2026 and found it to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Projects run over months and stall without a rhythm, so the plan sets milestones you can see.
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