Why Serve?

• serve your community in a unique way

• make an important contribution to upholding the law

• develop a broader and deeper understanding of your local community

• gain a good working knowledge of the law

• develop personal skills, such as decision making, communicating and team-working which can be invaluable in your career, if you have one

Magistrates work in local courts - the magistrates' courts. They consider the evidence and make decisions in a fair, unbiased and structured manner. The work covers a wide range of criminal and civil matters. In criminal cases heard in the Adult and Youth Courts, magistrates:

decide on requests for remand in custody
decide on applications for bail
decide whether a case should be adjourned
determine whether a defendant is guilty or not following a trial
pass sentence on a defendant who has been found guilty or who has pleaded guilty
commit a defendant to the Crown Court for sentence
enforce financial penalties
may determine the venue at which a case will be heard
in civil cases heard in the Family Proceedings Court, magistrates make decision on a range of issues affecting children and families

Magistrates are also asked to decide whether to grant certain orders, licences or certificates, for example, liquor licences, although this is due to change in the near future.

In a magistrates' court the justices usually sit as a Bench of three; when sitting as a Youth Bench or as a Family Proceedings Panel there must be at least one man and one woman justice on the Bench.

When hearing cases magistrates have to ascertain the facts and then apply the law to them with the help and advice of a qualified court clerk.

Magistrates may sit with a judge in the Crown Court to hear appeals from magistrates' courts against conviction or sentence.