2017 Recorder Competition– Fundamental change to the selection process

On Tuesday 11th October 2016 Lord Justice Burnett, the Vice-Chair (Judicial) of the JAC, addressed the ChBA about the forthcoming competition to appoint 100 Recorders sitting in crime and family.  He revealed, for the first time, the “profound changes” that the JAC will be making to the selection process for appointing Recorders.  Most importantly:

• The selection process will not involve any testing of knowledge of criminal law and procedure or family law and procedure.
• There will be four stages to the selection process.  This will involve two different on-line tests (testing situational judgment and critical analysis), a telephone assessment, and a selection day (role play and interview).
• Only candidates who get through to third stage of the process, the telephone assessment, will be required to complete and submit self-assessment forms.  These forms will not be required at the outset of the application process.
• Likewise, only candidates who get through to the third stage of the process will be required to identify the names of their referees/independent assessors.  Identification of referees will not be required at the outset of the application proces
• The JAC are looking to appoint the best 100 potential judges from the candidates who apply.  It is not necessary for candidates to have any experience of criminal or family law, or any previous experience of sitting.
• There is no prospect of a competition to appoint civil-only Recorders in the foreseeable future.

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