Magistrates - what do you need to be one?

[ReinaLuna]

What do you need to be a magistrate in the UK? is it a paid job or volunteer one like when you are in the jury?

I just saw a man who is a retired IT consultant saying he will be a magistrate. Feel curious because I thought that for you to be a magistrate you needed a law university degree!

[NORMANTHEDOG]

you have to be a upstanding person in the community,no more,you apply,they check you out,if they think your suitable,you are invited to become one,my mother was a magistrate for 12 yrs,and no,you dont get paid.

[ReinaLuna]

Thanks Norman! You're really quick in your replies! And very cool also, I am always laughing with your answers in the relationship section... how is curlyperm today? my hello for her although we never talked, she seems really nice, as you are!

[Buenchico]

This might help:
http://www.dca.gov.uk/magistrates/candidates/i ndex.htm

Chris

[dzug]

Whilst you don't get paid you can get a travel and subsistence allowance and put in a claim for loss of earnings if you take time off work to do it and your employer doesn't pay you (some do, believe it or not)

[ReinaLuna]

Thanks Chris, I will have a look there!
And dzug, it's interesting what you just told me... because I am a lawyer in my native country (Brasil) so I am very interested in law. Maybe if I can't find any job related to my area, I can get any job and still try the magistrate thing, hehe.... thank you!!