Appointment details

Magistrate Recruitment Advisory Committee / London

Summary

• Organisation: HM Courts and Tribunals Service
• Sponsor department: Ministry of Justice
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Judicial, Prisons & Policing
• Skills: Communication
• Number of vacancies: 20
• Time commitment: Adhoc
• Length of term: 9 years
• Application deadline: 4pm on 2 June 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   12 May 2025

2. Application deadline

   4pm on 2 June 2025

3. Sifting date

   9 June 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   29 August 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The London Recruitment Advisory Committee is responsible for the recruitment and selection of magistrates across Greater London.

Volunteers are needed to sit as non magistrate members on the Recruitment Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace for London. As a member of the committee you would be involved in interviewing and selecting prospective new magistrates.

Appointment description

• Attend training;
• Attend bi-annual meetings of the Committee;
• Be willing and able to make a fulsome contribution to the work of the committee;
• Adhere to the policies and processes set out in the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State’s Directions for Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace;
• Follow any additional guidance issued by the Lady Chief Justice, the Lord Chancellor (or their delegates).

Organisation description

Advisory Committees comprise a prescribed mix of magistrate and non-magistrate volunteers who are of equal standing and are collectively responsible for recommending the appointments of candidates to the magistracy to the Lord Chancellor – by determining eligibility, conducting interviews and assessing candidate suitability.

Non-magistrate members play a vital role in the work of Advisory Committees by applying the fresh perspective that people who have no background in the magistracy are able to bring.

As a member of the Committee, your role will centre on interviewing members of the public who’ve applied for appointment as a magistrate in the London region, and assessing their suitability. Interview panels comprise three interviewers, at least one of which will always be a non-magistrate interviewer.

Most of the business of the Advisory Committee is conducted remotely, via MS Teams, and on weekdays only (during core business hours) – so applicants must:

• Be comfortable with the prospect of conducting remote interviews and attending other meetings and training remotely

• Be in a position to deploy their own IT in order to participate in the business of the Committee

• Have suitably private and appropriate space at home or office in which to undertake the full range of duties of a Committee member

• Be willing and ready to conduct certain tasks and duties in-person at locations in the City of London on an occasional basis, when the need              arises.

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Have integrity, be circumspect, and be able to maintain confidences.
• Have nothing in their private or working life, or in the lives of their family or close friends, which could bring them or the Advisory Committee into disrepute.
• Be able to communicate effectively with courtesy and professionalism.
• Be able to work as part of a team and engage in collective decision making.
• Be able to think logically, weigh arguments and reach balanced decisions.
• Have a good knowledge and understanding of social issues in the local area in which they wish to serve, in particular the causes and effects of crime. 
• Have respect for, and understanding of, social diversity.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for Advisory Committee work and be able to make the necessary time commitment to the duties and training required.

Desirable criteria

• Interviewing candidates in an employment context or for other public appointments / voluntary roles;
• Working with disciplinary/investigatory procedures.

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• equality information
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues
• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a supporting statement
• a short professional biography (150 words)

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by the Lord Chancellor to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates demonstrate the key qualities of the role.

3. Ahead of the programme of interviews, the Panel will assess applications against the criteria to ensure eligibility. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. The Panel will interview all candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel will ask questions to assess your ability to demonstrate the required qualities of the role. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

5. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to the Lord Chancellor, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for the Chair to the Advisory Committee and subsequently the Lord Chancellor to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, the Advisory Committee may choose not to recommend any candidates and re-run the competition.

6. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

7. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

To be confirmed

Selection Panels are chosen by the Advisory Committees to assist the Lord Chancellor in her decision-making. These include a prescribed mix of magistrate and non-magistrate members. 

Selection Panels carry out interviews in line in accordance with the Lord Chancellor's Directions in order to decide objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending the candidates they find appointable. It is then for the Lord Chancellor to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

Age – The minimum age for appointment to an Advisory Committee is 18. The mandatory retirement age is 75. 

Nationality – British nationality is not a requirement however candidates must permanently reside in the jurisdiction of England and Wales at the time of application. Candidates in the process of, or intending to, seek asylum or applying for indefinite leave to remain in the UK are ineligible. 

Residence – Applicants should apply to serve the Advisory Committee which covers the area in which they live or work. 

Health – The Lord Chancellor will not appoint anyone whose health prevents them from fully carrying out the duties of an Advisory Committee member. 

Disability – Applications are welcome from people with a disability who are able, either unassisted or with the benefit of reasonable adjustments, to carry out the full range of duties of an Advisory Committee member. 

Former magistrates – Former magistrates will not be appointed as non-magistrate members of an Advisory Committee. Occupations/Other roles – certain roles undertaken by prospective applicants (or the spouse, partner, civil partner or a close relative of the applicant) may affect eligibility to serve on an Advisory Committee. 

Some occupations will automatically disqualify a candidate – including bailiffs, Community Assessors, Community Safety Partnership members, Educational Welfare officers, Independent custody visitors, McKenzie Friends, National Crime Agency staff, Officers/employees/Commissioners/Community Support Officers of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Prison Service employees and those concerned with Prison Escort Contract Services, Private detectives, Probation Officers/Assistants and Prosecutors, Restorative Justice Panel members, Store detectives, Traffic Wardens and members of Youth Offender Panels or teams. 

Other occupations or voluntary roles are dependent on the circumstances – but all applicants will be required to disclose details of occupations/other roles they undertake in order that an assessment of risk of conflict can be made. 

Contact LondonACrecruitment@justice.gov.uk for further details of occupations and roles which may be restrictive or which may otherwise affect your eligibility for appointment.

If you need further advice, please contact londonrecruitment@justice.gov.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks in line with the Lord Chancellor's Directions. 

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘essential criteria', we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert. When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. The Advisory Committee will explore any potential conflicts with you prior to interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert.

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage, on request.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Candidates who are not recommended for appointment and who believe the selection process has been misapplied, or that they have been treated unfairly, are entitled to request a review of the decision by the Lord Chancellor. Advisory Committees will inform unsuccessful candidates about the process for requesting a review.

Candidates who remain dissatisfied after a review are entitled to complain to the Commissioner for Public Appointments. 

Further information is available at:

https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/ 

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is committed to the protection and security of your personal information. 

It is important that you read this notice so that you are aware of how and why we are using such information. This privacy notice describes how we collect and use personal information during and after your relationship with us, in accordance with data protection law.  

MoJ is the data controller for the personal data used for the purposes of making public appointments.  

The type of personal data we process 

We currently collect and use the following information: 

Name; 

Contact details; 

Employment history and qualifications 

Curriculum vitae and other background information relevant to your application, including sift and interview assessments made by the advisory assessment panel; 

Information you provide on interests relevant to the role you are applying for; 

Political activity; 

Health information as required to facilitate access and participation in events (e.g. venue access and dietary requirements). 

Due Diligence checks; 

As part of the recruitment process, for those candidates being invited to interview, the Department will undertake due diligence checks to assess their suitability for the role, including (alongside consideration of their own declaration of relevant interests) evidence of their conduct and/or professional capacity as demonstrated by information about them in the public domain.  

Contact details

Should you have any further queries, please contact the Secretary to the Advisory Committee - Ms Judith Melnick via the LondonACrecruitment@justice.gov.uk