First Family Court Magistrates required
Recruitment of magistrates in the Family Court in Manchester
This is a new and exciting initiative and Manchester is one of the first regions to recruit magistrates directly to the Family Court. Vacancies exist across the region with the most urgent need at the Manchester Civil Justice Centre and at either Stockport or Wigan Family Hearing Centres. Many family magistrates sit at more than one location and maximum flexibility is encouraged. More information on the vacancies and their locations can be found on GOV.UK.
Applications
Copies of the appropriate application form can be found at the link identified in the poster accompanying this notice, and are welcome from 8th January, 2018 until 29th March, 2018.
Frequency of sitting
The minimum sitting requirement for all magistrates is 13 full days per year plus mandatory time is spent in training (minimum of 7 full days in the first year of appointment). The volume of work in the Family Courts in Greater Manchester is high and the average number of sittings for family magistrates is currently up to 20 days per year for those able to make that commitment. Candidates will be required to commit to the minimum sittings but if more than that number can be achieved it will assist the organisation and the development of the new appointees.
Number of vacancies
We aim to recruit 15-20 new magistrates in this first round of recruitment. Whilst the overall need is higher, the intention is to limit the number in this first campaign so that the process can be tested and subsequently evaluated. If you apply and the number of candidates required has already been reached, your application will be put on a waiting list and you will be contacted once the next campaign is open.
Family Courts are ‘closed courts’ – they are not open to the public so it will not be possible for you to visit and observe a court. Information and application forms are available at www.gov.uk/become-magistrate. You can also view a video online at GMAC.online for additional information.
If you require further information, please contact us by email at [email protected] or by telephone on 0161 830 4331/4250/4374/4260.