Entries Tagged as 'recorder'

 

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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?

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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.

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Judicial Appointments – Fundamental Changes in 2017

The judicial appointment process continues to evolve but it seems to have reached a bit of a crossroads.  The core problem appears to be the widely held view that the MoJ are unable to attract the required quality of candidates for some High Court Divisions. Hence the launch of the Deputy High Court Judge competitions last year which is being run again as I write.  When the list of successful candidates, from the 1st competition, was finally published it featured many highly respected Silks (although a number of these were already sitting as Recorders) and one solicitor. It is an impressive array of talent and bodes well for future full-time appointments.  The JAC have just announced a 2 track  High Court Judge competition for those who have not previously sat and s9(4) judges.

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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.

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Has the Judicial Appointments Commission Created a Level Playing Field for Solicitors?

Depending on the actual judicial post, competition is increasing with the applications to posts ratios ranging from 8:1 to 21:1. So for some competitions you have to be in the top 5% of candidates. No recruitment process is perfect and with the talent applying for both the salaried and fee paid positions the reality is that many very good candidates won’t even make it to the selection day. With HMCTS in the process of cutting 37.8% from their budget and various policies seeking to reduce the work that reaches the courts and tribunals, it seems realistic that the number of sitting opportunities will be reduced. Add this to concerns in both professions and we can expect to see more candidates seeking fewer jobs.

So you have a choice:

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