The Work-Life Balance

I was appointed to the West Herts Bench in 2001 and I am the first to admit that at the time I didn’t really know what I was taking on. I work full-time in London and commute to work every day by train or tube. I also have a four year old daughter, and fairly complex child care arrangements which I share with my husband. I have found, however, that it is not only possible to manage all these things but also rewarding, educational and often fulfilling.

I have restricted the number of days I sit in court to 18 per year, which is slightly above the minimum but not so many that my workload piles up to unmanageable levels when I’m away. My colleagues and employer are very supportive of my role as a JP. I work in a University and they continue to pay my salary when I am on court duties. At certain times of the year I can’t take time off as we are too busy, so I don’t sit at all during September, for example. When I was pregnant I took maternity leave from the bench in just the same way as I did from work.

JPs’ training is concentrated at the start and includes visits to prisons, which are fascinating. I never thought I would be sniffed by a sniffer dog in a youth detention centre or have a chance to chat to a prison governor. During the first years new magistrates are given a mentor who helps you to adapt to the rules and procedures but I have always felt I could ask virtually anyone for advice and they would be happy to help.

After five years sitting as a winger (one of the JP’s who contributes to the decision-making but doesn’t speak in Court) I was invited to train to take on the role of ‘chair’ -- the Magistrate who speaks in Court, has more responsibility for what goes on and tries to keep things moving. This is a big step and I decided I couldn’t cope with the additional commitment. However, one year later, I felt ready to take it on and I’m glad I did. There were more training sessions and I am currently going through my appraised sittings, but, again, I have found excellent support from my appraisers and colleagues on the bench and I am learning all the time.

There are many other opportunities for me to extend my role, for example by joining a Panel or a Committee and attending evening meetings. I have so far not joined a Panel and for a few years, when my daughter was very small, I restricted my commitment to the Bench by not attending evening meetings. This wasn’t ideal but meant that I was making a good contribution in Court and still managing all the other demands on me.

There is no doubt in my mind that the skills I am developing as a JP have benefited other areas of my life. For example, we have to work in a team, be structured and methodical in our decision-making and give reasons for our decisions. There is no room for compromise in some cases and we have to be certain why we have come to a particular conclusion. In life, you can sometimes fudge these things but it must be clear in Court.

It is important that the Bench is made up of a variety of people with different life experiences. To judge others we need to keep open minds and make sure that our decisions don’t just reflect a uniform perspective. I want to encourage more people to take on the role as I know there are many people from all walks of life who could make a significant contribution. At times it takes some organisation and it can be hard work but it is also very rewarding.