Following the legal competence assessment (where applicable), candidates will be interviewed by the full panel.
Depending on the office being recruited, this stage will typically last between 45 and 60 minutes, although interviews for more senior roles may be longer.
The panel will ask a range of questions designed to assess the skills, qualities and competencies required for the role. These may include competency-based questions, scenario-based questions and questions exploring your experience, judgement and approach.
Candidates will be expected to provide relevant evidence and examples from their own experience to demonstrate how they meet the criteria for appointment.
Sample interview questions can be found below.
Personal characteristics
Tell us about a time when you have had to use moral courage.
Case management skills and efficiency
What deadlines do you have to deal with most commonly in your present role? How do you successfully achieve them?
Communication skills
How does the judge use her/his communication skills to demonstrate that s/he is ‘in charge’ in the Court?
Personal characteristics
You are presiding over a trial involving a child witness and the child is becoming distraught. What would you do?
Case management skills and efficiency
You are presiding over a busy bulk court. The cases included deferred sentences and new custodies all of which must be concluded that day. How would you prioritise to get through the business?
Communication skills
You are required to issue a written judgment following a difficult civil case which included disputed allegations of historical sexual abuse within a family. The case had split the family and the evidence was confusing and contradictory. What presentational issues will you have to address in the framing of your judgment?