Appointment details

Lay Committee Members - Avon, Somerset & Gloucestershire Advisory Committee

Summary

• Organisation: Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace
• Sponsor department: Ministry of Justice
• Location: South West
• Sectors: Judicial, Prisons & Policing
• Skills: Judicial
• Number of vacancies: 5
• Time commitment: Adhoc
• Length of term: 9 years
• Application deadline: 11:59pm on 30 September 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   20 August 2025

2. Application deadline

   11:59pm on 30 September 2025

3. Sifting date

   15 October 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   1 December 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

Functions of the Advisory Committee

• Recruit and recommend to the Senior Presiding Judge candidates for appointment to the magistracy.

• Recruit and recommend to the Lord Chancellor, candidates for membership of the Advisory Committee.

• Consider requests for review of decisions relating to recommendations for appointment.

• Consider requests for re-instatement to the magistracy.

• Encourage applications to the magistracy and Advisory Committee membership from underrepresented groups.

• Consider and provide observations on the data gathered by the Committee Secretary as part of judicial exercises.

Appointment description

A lay member of the Magistrates’ Advisory Committee plays a crucial role in the recruitment and selection of magistrates (also known as Justices of the Peace). Lay members are typically individuals without a legal background who bring an independent, community-based perspective to the process. Their primary responsibility is to assess applicants' character, integrity, and suitability for the role, ensuring a diverse and balanced bench that reflects the local community. They take part in sifting applications, conducting interviews, and evaluating candidates against national selection criteria, such as good character, understanding and communication, and social awareness.

Beyond recruitment, lay members help uphold public confidence in the justice system by promoting transparency, fairness, and diversity in magistrate appointments. They work collaboratively with other committee members—both lay and judicial—to make well-rounded decisions based not only on qualifications but also on values and life experience. Their outsider perspective helps ensure the magistracy remains representative, approachable, and grounded in real-world insight.

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

The Time Commitment Required

• Abide by the seven principles set out in the Standards in Public Life; Selflessness; Integrity; Objectivity; Accountability; Openness; Honesty and Leadership.

• Attend Training

• Attend meetings of the committee.

• Be willing and able to make a fulsome contribution to the work of the committee, including attending meetings.

• Adhere to the policies and processes set out in The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State’s Directions for Advisory Committees on the Justices of Peace.

• Follow any additional guidance issued by the Lord Chief Justice, the Lord Chancellor (or their delegates)

Desirable criteria

Qualities Sought in Members

• 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.

Application and selection process

How to apply

How to apply

Please download the Candidate Pack documents, once completed please submit the application form with the following documents to SW-Advisory@justice.gov.uk ;

• Completed Application Form
• References – Appendix A contained within application form
• Curriculum Vitae
• Diversity Information and Conflicts of Interest form – Form 1D
• Register of interests – Form 1G

The Conduct Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace is committed to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of race, age, disability, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, transgender and working patterns and to the principle of public appointments on merit with independent assessments, openness and transparency or process.

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.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

JP Nominated Committee Member

Lay Nominated Committee Member

Nominated Committee member from an outside Advisory Committee

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

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. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. 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. Term of appointment is a maximum 9 years.

The annual time commitment required can vary but as a general guide this may involve between ten to twenty days. The Committee usually holds an average of two full meetings a year and members may also be required to attend training sessions from time to time. Meetings and training events are generally held within normal business hours Monday to Friday.

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.

How to complain

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

Please contact the South West Advisory Team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at SW-Advisory@justice.gov.uk.  They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

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.

Here is how HMCTS uses personal data about you 

Contact details

If you have an additional queries please contact SW-Advisory@justice.gov.uk. 

Attachments

• Advisory Committee Application Form

• Advisory Committee Application Guidance

• Diversity Information and Conflicts of Interest Form

• Register of Interest