How To Become A Judge

Last Updated on December 28, 2022

Becoming a judge is a very admirable profession. Providing independent and fair judgments that deal with the various disputes of humans and in the process giving them a direction to live life peacefully and happily. Becoming a judge is not easy but is not that difficult either as you will be guided throughout the whole process. You will learn how to become a judge if you just take things step by step and maintain your patience.

Accessing the right information on the internet might not be easy sometimes, that’s why we bring you in the article below, the best and latest information on steps on how to become a judge, how long does it take to become a judge, amongst others. Read on to know more.

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how long does it take to become a judge?

Since there are many steps to this senior-level role, it is common for the process to take years and often decades. In addition to seven years of schooling following high school, a lawyer should expect to spend time trying cases. Although it is possible to be appointed or elected to a position with minimal experience, candidates nominated without at least two years of experience trying cases are rare. Lawyers or attorneys often earn a judgeship after multiple decades of trial experience.

What Does a Judge Do?

Judges primarily work in offices and courtrooms. As of 2018, 49% of judges and hearing officers worked for state governments. They hear arguments and evidence in cases that they’re assigned, and may need to perform legal research of their own when issuing rulings. Judges and hearing officers are responsible for ensuring that the law has been followed during court proceedings and that court procedure is followed. They rule on the admissibility of evidence or testimony, and may provide instructions to the jury when necessary. Judges are also involved in sentencing those convicted of a crime.

Degree RequiredJuris Doctor (J.D.)
Training RequiredJudge training is generally required and provided by the jurisdiction that seats the judge
Key ResponsibilitiesPreside over hearings and trials, determining the admission of evidence and testimony and supervise the jury process; interpret the law and apply it properly; authorize warrants and other evidence gathering under the law; issue orders, rulings and verdicts
Licensure or CertificationLicensure as a lawyer is required in all states
Job Growth (2018-2028)3% for all judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates*
Median Salary (2018)$133,920 for all judges, magistrate judges, and magistrates*

How To Become A Judge

The following sections outline the steps one must take to become a judge.

Step 1: Attend Undergraduate School

Aspiring judges can prepare for careers in law during undergraduate school. No specific major of study is required to attend law school, but prospective law students commonly earn an undergraduate degree in political science, history, business or economics. Law school admissions can be competitive, and it is helpful to prepare during your undergraduate years.

Step 2: Earn a Law Degree

Do you have to be a lawyer to become a judge? In most cases, yes. Most judges begin their careers as lawyers, and prior legal practice is a prerequisite for many state and federal judgeships. Lawyers must hold Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees, which require completing three years of legal education at a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). Some schools offer part-time programs, which typically take four years to complete.

During the first year of study in law school, students typically focus on fundamental law coursework, including contracts, torts, civil procedure and criminal law. In the final two years, students complete elective classes in specialized topics, such as family law and tax law. Clinical internships are also typically available. Completing an internship during law school can provide students with experience working in the field and networking opportunities, which may make it easier to find employment after graduation.

Step 3: Pass a Bar Exam

After earning a J.D. degree, prospective lawyers must apply for admission to the bar in their state or jurisdiction of practice. Although admission and testing requirements vary, admission to a bar usually requires being licensed, which is gained by passing numerous exams. Exams may include the Multistate Bar Exam, which is a 200-question, 6-hour exam, which tests knowledge of various law fundamentals, such as criminal law, contracts and torts, and an ethics exam and a state-specific exam.

The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) offers past examinations for sale on its website. These exams provide students with an idea of what to expect on the bar examination.

Step 4: Work as an Attorney

Most judges work as attorneys prior to acquiring their judgeship. An attorney represents clients before a court or in other legal proceedings to resolve disputes. Their tasks may include appearing in court, drafting court documents and conducting legal research.

Step 5: Obtain a Judgeship

To become judges, one must either be appointed or elected. Lawyers may apply for judgeships by submitting their names for consideration to a judicial nominating commission, or they may be recommended by senators or other politicians. Generally, becoming nominated for a judgeship requires a strong history of legal practice and support from politicians. Some federal judges are appointed to life-long terms, while other federal, state or local judges have fixed or renewable terms of office. At the end of these terms, judges often either retire or teach law school.

Step 6: Complete Training

After being elected or appointed, judges may be required to complete state-administered introductory training or attend training programs led by legal organizations, such as the ABA, National Judicial College or National Center for State Courts. The Federal Judicial Center provides training programs for federal judges and other federal court personnel. In these programs, trainees participate in court trials, review legal publications and complete online exercises. Most judges are required to complete continuing education courses throughout their careers to stay informed about changes to the law.

The average salary for a judge

Judges in the United States make an average of $86,927 per year. Salaries can range from $14,000 to $222,000 per year. This information was gathered by Indeed over the past 36 months from 170 employees, users and job advertisements. Judges are usually full-time employees, though part-time positions are occasionally available.

How Many Years does it Take to Become a Judge?

The length of time it takes to complete this career pathway can vary greatly. It typically takes around 7 years to become a lawyer, including four years of undergraduate courses and three years of law school. After that, most people spend several years practicing as an attorney before seeking a judgeship.

Essential Judge Skills

Good at Making Decisions

Since judges are required to determine everything from how a trial will be held to sentencing for crimes, they must be good decision-makers. They cannot be hesitant or change their minds in a courtroom, so judges must be sure of the decisions they make.

Critical Thinker

Being able to hear a case built both for and against a person accused of a crime can make things confusing. It often comes down to whose lawyer argued the case better. To be a good judge, being able to think critically about the accusations and evidence is crucial.

Strong Listener

Zoning out during a court case simply cannot happen as a judge. If you decide to become a judge, you will need to develop very good listening skills and be able to focus on listening to others for hours on end.

Judicial roles Of Becoming A Judge

There are several routes to become a judge:

  •  Recorder
  •  Deputy district judge – civil and family
  •  Deputy district judge – magistrates’ court
  •  Tribunals – a wide range of roles

You can:

  • Work as a full-time salaried judge
  • Work as a part-time salaried judge
  • Work on a fee-paid basis while continuing in practice. A fee-paid basis is an agreed payment for the work, regardless of the time it takes.

The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) selects candidates for judicial roles in courts and tribunals.

how to become a judge in canada

What is the procedure to become a Judge in India? - Quora

Unlike many American courts, Canadian judges aren’t elected, but appointed. If you’re interested in the Canadian judiciary, there are multiple court levels in Canada: provincial courts, which oversee small claims courts, traffic cases, family law and minor criminal matters; superior provincial courts, which handle more serious matters; the courts of appeal; and the Supreme Court of Canada. The first requirement for the job of judge is to be a Canadian citizen; you’ll also be expected to have legal experience.

Become a lawyer. You’ll need to be a practicing lawyer with at least 10 years experience to qualify for any superior provincial court. The Superior Court Judges Association says it helps to have been active in legal societies, to have a record of volunteer or charitable work and to have made a “significant contribution” to the legal profession. Standards for the lower courts vary between provinces, but the Canadian Encyclopedia website says even provinces where non-lawyers can legally become judges no longer consider candidates without judicial experience. Supreme Court appointments only go to lawyers with 10 years courtroom experience unless they’re already superior-court judges.

Learn the standards for your province if you want to be a judge in the lower courts. Ontario’s government website says you need 10 years membership at the bar in Canada, preferably in a courtroom, though experience in administrative tribunals or academia might be acceptable. Ontario won’t accept a candidate with a criminal record, and if an attorney has professional complaints against him, they must be resolved.

Submit a written application, which will be reviewed by a committee. Ontario’s committee includes two judges, seven laypeople, one representative of the Ontario Judicial Council and three members of the legal community. The committee reviewing superior-court appointments includes judges, lawyers, government officials and members of the public. The committee will then forward the recommendations to whoever has the final say: The Ontario Attorney General for that state’s provincial courts and the federal cabinet for higher appointments.

Move to Quebec if you want a position on the Supreme Court. Canadian law stipulates three of the judges on the court must be from that province. It’s customary, but not mandatory, that the remaining six judgeships will be divided up between two from the west, one from the Atlantic provinces and three from Ontario. Judges are appointed by the prime minister and have to undergo several hours of questioning by parliament first, though parliament can’t reject them.

The Requirements to be a Judge

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Requirements for a judge vary depending on where they serve. Most states require an applicant to have passed the state bar to be eligible for a judgeship. Federal appointments do not have formal requirements. Although there’s no official system, there are many expectations that serve as unofficial requirements for a potential judge, either to get the votes required in an election or to secure confirmation from a legislative body. It is expected that a judicial nominee will show legal competence, possess a track record of trial work as a lawyer and be in good standing with a state bar association.

The JAC encourages solicitors from a wide variety of backgrounds to apply.

You can apply online through the JAC website. The application happens in stages.

First, you’ll need to provide an application letter and references. You and your referees must give evidence of the qualities and abilities required for the role you’re applying for.

You may be asked to do a written test for some roles. In the test you’ll need to:

  • analyse case studies
  • identify issues
  • apply the law (which, in some cases, may be a hypothetical statute)

There’s no pass mark to aim for. The JAC decides how many people will go through to each stage of the process and the pass mark is based on that number.

If you’re shortlisted, you’ll be invited to attend a selection day. This involves an interview with two or three people, including a judge. There will be a role play exercise for entry-level posts.

how to become a judge in australia

Following are the step-by-step guidelines on how to become a judge in Australia:

Step 1: Complete a Bachelor’s degree


To apply to law school, you must first obtain a Bachelors of Law (LLB) or a Juris Doctor (JD) postgraduate degree. However, after completing your bachelor’s degree, consider working as an intern with a law agency to gain some experience.

Step 2: LSAT (Law School Admission Test)


The LSAT is a law school admissions exam for undergraduate students to get admission in law school. The LSAT has five sections. In addition to an essay section, there are sections on logical reasoning, logic games, reading comprehension, and an experimental portion. Each part contains 22 to 28 questions. The higher the LSAT score, the more probability to secure admission into a good law school.

Step 3: Go to Law School


After receiving your LSAT score, you can start applying to law schools. Law school education consists of four years of extensive law modules. You can also take electives that interest you. However, the degree consists of modules that require pure dedication. If you want to pursue it as your career, nothing is impossible.

Following are the best law schools in Australia


Step 4: Clear the Bar Exam


To practice law in a specific state, you must first pass the bar exam. The exam has two parts, an essay section, and a multistate bar examination. You first have to complete your essay. However, the tests might take a few days to complete. The purpose of this essay is to assess the student’s understanding of federal and state law.

Step 5: Start Making Your Resume


You should start updating your resume after finishing your education. Whether you want to start with a clerkship and work your way up to practicing law at a firm, a strong resume will help you make a good impression on potential employers.

Focus on the skills and duties listed in a job description and be as compact as possible. The first impression is the last impression. Make your first impression count.

Make sure your resume is up to the mark. You must take some time to customize your resume and add some recent experience before submitting it.

Step 6: Admission to Legal Practice


Once you have completed the above steps, you can seek admission to the legal process through the admission authority in your state. The admission authorities may differ from state to state.

Following are the admission authorities of different states of Australia:

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