Entries Tagged as 'Recorder Qualifying Test'

 

Blog

Interactive Judicial & Silk Appointment Workshops

**** Feedback from my Faculty of Advocates Workshop Vice-Dean to Tim Collins  ****

How to approach making a judicial or Silk application and how to stand out from the crowd at your selection day or interview.

In a two hour interactive workshop I will discuss and answer any questions candidates may have on:

Why competency based recruitment?

How do the qualifying tests work?

How do you select and support your referees?

How to develop compelling application forms?

How you can prepare to succeed at interviews?

Continue Reading

 

Blog

Mock Judicial Appointments Qualifying Tests

“… room for improvement but phenomenally helpful is reading text quickly etc . Really really useful . Thanks for putting it together” 

Over recent years I have been asked repeatedly whether there are any old JAC tests that candidates could try. The JAC used to publish qualifying test reports and include their questions and answers but haven’t done so since that moved to the more generic situational questioning and critical reasoning tests. So unfortunatlely, they no longer make their tests available.

My blog on Qualifying Tests – gives you an overview of how they work.

I have been talking to a number of judges and practitioners about developing some mock crime, civil and family tests. However, the JAC announced at the end of 2016 that they would be testing new non-jurisdictional qualifying tests.

As a result and having collaborated with others I have developed one situational judgement and one critical reasoning test.

“Thank you. Did the test – wow very taxing – got xIt has helped greatly to see it in the flesh as it were and what to expect and what time of day not to take it!!  Timing is key as well – a brilliant revision tool. Thanks”

Situational Judgement

16 questions  in 15 minutes set by a judge to test candidates’ judgement and decision making based on real situations and experience.

Critical Reasoning

23 questions to be answered in 30 minutes based on a judicial speech – this includes time for reading a PDF text.

Your Feedback Report

Following the test you will be e-mailed your test report, score, the questions and answers.

Candidate  Options

NB These tests are on line, so make sure you have a good internet connection, sufficient time and are able to open a PDF document. Please follow the instructions and keep an eye on your time. You must download the speech before commencing the critical reasoning or combined test! Don’t pay for any test until you are ready to take it – they are on-line tests. Payments can only be accepted via PayPal (this is the only payment that works for this).

If you don’t see the PayPal link you may need to look at your pop up settings and/or make sure your PayPal e-mail address is the same as the one you are using for the test.  Perhaps you may need to try another device or browser – technology!

  1. 1.   Situational Judgement Mock Test 15 minutes – £19.50 +VAT –  SJ test link
  2. 2.   Critical Reasoning Mock Test 30 minutes – £19.50 +VAT – CR test link
  3. 3.    (1 + 2) Situational Judgement & Critical Reasoning Joint Mock Test 45 minutes – £29.50 +VAT – SJ & CR combined test link.

Your results and the correct answers will be automatically e-mailed to you once you have completed a test.

Opportunities (problems)

If you have failed to follow the test instructions and not downloaded the speech for the critical reasoning test, it can be found here!

I have set these tests so that you can take them a second time in case you experience wireless or technical issues.

I’m keen to add further situational judgement questions, but know that will not be easy, especially if they are non-jurisdictional and importantly respect the confidentiality of actual JAC tests.

Any feedback would be most welcome and I hope these may help candidates prepare for any future JAC tests.

“This evening I did the tests that you recently posted on your website which were very helpful.”

Narrative Tests

It is not possible to set these as mock tests as they require marking individually but I am willing to share some tips and advice – please just e-mail me or text me your e-mail address: tim@asktim.org 0796 999 7335

Continue Reading

 

Blog

Judicial Appointments – Qualifying Tests

I try and update this blog when new information becomes available but the JAC are consistently inconsistent! I have updated this in February 2021 and it is simply an attempt to explain how the JAC qualifying tests work, what to expect, some advice and links that may help candidates.

Continue Reading

 

Blog

JAC 2017 Recorder Competition – A Brave New World?

My updated blog on the 2018 Recorder competition can be found here  it contains links to tips and advice. For the latest updates on the progress of this competition please follow my Twitter feed.

Feedback:

“I just wanted to say thank you so much for the assistance that you provided me with. Whilst plainly I can neither confirm, nor deny, anything, I wanted you to be aware that I could not have gone through the process at all without your assistance. It was utterly invaluable.”

**** UPDATE 18 December 2018 ****

Some candidates learned about their outcomes mid-morning today, many others are still waiting to hear late in the evening . Candidates being given conflicting information from the JAC, (e-mails have been sent to everyone  – we still have some to contact – we don’t know – person who knows has gone home)!! The competition has been moved from in progress on the JAC website but they have not shared any updates. I understand that of the 32 criminal Recorders appointed on the SE Circuit 21 were civil practitioners.

Almost a year on this sorry competition is ending as it started in chaos and frustration!

*****UPDATE 17 August 2017*****

Well done to everyone through to the Recorder 2017 selection days, it has been an incredibly tough competition so far. I’m very busy working with dozens of candidates to prepare for their selection days. There are some links that may help you below – Good Luck everyone!

Having experienced some earlier problems with technology, the JAC are leaving nothing to chance. Telephone assessments commence 11 May 2017 – I have prepared some guidance and candidates are booking mock practice sessions with me. Please just ask if I can be of any assistance.

***** UPDATE 10 April *****

Candidates have been informed whether they are through to the 3rd stage – JAC recognised problems and 1200+  candidates through:  self-assessments and details of assessors required by 13:00 on Tuesday 25 April.

“The JAC will ensure that no candidate is disadvantaged in proceeding to the next stage as a result of these issues” –  JAC 09/03.  –  If they can genuinely achieve this I’d be hugely impressed, but I just can’t see how it is now possible?!

***** UPDATE 8 March *****

I’ve sent a short report to the JAC highlighting some concerns with how the narrative test was run: 042 Recorder 2nd QT Feedback

I understand many candidates have contacted the JAC directly and I assume candidates will be informed as soon as they have decided how to best proceed.

***** UPDATE 3 March *****

I have prepared some guidance for the 042 Recorder Narrative Qualifying Test on 07/03

 available via e-mail: tim@asktim.org

**** UPDATE 10 February ****

“Unprecedented” – almost 2,500 applicants – top c1,500 to go through to 2nd qualifying test.

Fundamental Changes to the 2017 Selection Process

This article in Counsel Magazine gives a very good overview of what to expect in this competition,if you haven’t seen it, I recommend you read it!

“The assessment tools we’re testing for this exercise are not based on any jurisdiction.”

Dates for the key stages of the exercise are as follows (updated 10/04/17):

The competition is now in progress – applications closed at 13:00 on 8 February.

Online multiple choice test: between 16:00 and 22:00 on 15 February | E-mail of narrative test: Slots 06:00 – 12:00 16:00 – 22:00 on 7 March

Request for successful candidates to complete and submit a self-assessment and provide independent assessment details: 4 April 2017 |Deadline for the submission of completed self-assessments: 25 April 2017 at 13:00

Telephone assessments: extended from 11 May to 12 June | Selection days:  delayed by two months:  6 to 29 September 2017.

Continue Reading