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What Is A Magistrate?
Magistrates are volunteers who hear cases in courts in their community.
They can hear cases in the criminal court, the family court, or both.
Each case is usually heard by three magistrates, including a magistrate who is trained to act as a chairperson.
You don’t need formal qualifications or legal training to become a magistrate but you have to be over 18 and under 65.
You will get full training for the role, and a legal adviser in court will help you with questions about the law.
Magistrates must retire at 70 and are normally expected to serve for at least five years.
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