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MAGISTRATES ENGLAND AND WALES

APPLICATION FOR FAMILY COURT

Candidate Identification Reference(for official use)

This document is produced and maintained by:

Magistrates HRJudicial Office10th Floor, Thomas More BuildingRoyal Courts of JusticeStrand London

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WC2A 2LL

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Instructions for completion and return of this form

THIS FORM IS FOR APPLICATIONS TO SIT AS A MAGISTRATE IN THE FAMILY COURT.

IF YOU WISH TO SIT AS A MAGISTRATE IN THE CRIMINAL MAGISTRATES COURT, YOU MUST COMPLETE A SEPARATE APPLICATION FORM.

Please complete all relevant sections of the form. Failure to do so could lead to your application being rejected.

Where applicable, click on the relevant box to place a cross in that box.

Where text is required, type your answers into the form fields. These will expand as you type until they fill the box. Please use Arial font size 11.

If a question does not apply to you, please mark it N/A (not applicable). Do not leave the space blank.

Completion of Appendix A (Diversity Monitoring Form) is not mandatory.

Completion of Appendix B (Referees) is mandatory.

Please send your completed application and Appendix A and B to the relevant advisory committee by email or post. If sending by post, please ensure the printed copy is fully legible and do not send photocopies.

Contact the advisory committee if you have any questions about completing your application.

A list of advisory committees and contact details can be found here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/magistrate-advisory-committee-recruitment-information

You will find it helpful to have the Becoming a Magistrate in England and Wales – Candidate Information’ available to you when you complete your application. You can find this here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-magistrate-application-form-guidance-notes

http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-magistrate-application-form-guidance-notes

http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/magistrate-advisory-committee-recruitment-information


PRE-APPLICATION CHECKLISTPlease read Becoming a Magistrate in England and Wales – Candidate Information’ in full before starting your application.

You must complete the following checklist before submitting your application. If you do not complete the checklist, your application is liable to be rejected.

I have read the Candidate Information in full.

I have checked to ensure that recruitment is taking place in my area.

I have researched the digital material referred to in the candidate information

I understand that applicants are expected to be living or working in, or reasonably close to, the area in which they wish to serve.

I am not seeking asylum or applying for indefinite leave to remain

I understand that, if called for interview, I will be required to demonstrate that I have a good knowledge and understanding of social issues in the area I wish to serve

I understand that magistrates are required to sit for at least 13 full days per year (or 26 half days). I also understand that I will be required to attend training and occasional meetings after court. I confirm that I am able to meet this commitment.

I am in employment and have obtained my employer’s agreement to take the necessary time off work if I am appointed.

Leave blank if not in employment and see below

I am not in employment.

The people I intend to nominate as referees have agreed to provide a reference and I understand that if references are not provided by the required date my application will be rejected.

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PRELIMINARY INFORMATION

Applicants are expected to be living or working in, or reasonably close to, the area in which they wish to serve.

Please state the name of the advisory committee whose recruitment exercise you are applying for:

Advisory Committee

If you have a preference to sit at a particular family court (or courts) within the area you are applying to, indicate them below. Please note that we cannot guarantee to meet your preference(s):

Preferred court(s)

How did you intially become aware of the role you are applying for?

What additional material have you seen that has increased your knowledge of the role? This might be advertisements, pages on the internet etc.

Only answer the next question if you are applying for vacancies in Wales (refer to page ‘x’ of the candidate information.

If the area to which you are applying has vacancies for bilingual magistrates, please indicate below if you would like to be considered for those vacancies:

Yes No

We need to know if you have previously applied to become a magistrate, including any separate applications to sit in the criminal Courts.

Have you previously applied to become a magistrate (either in family or criminal court) in this area?

Yes No

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Have you made an application to sit in the criminal or family court in another area?

Yes No

If you answered yes, please give details of when you made your application, to which advisory committee, and the outcome (if known) of your application.

The Magistrates’ Association represents approximately 80% of magistrates in England and Wales. Information about the Magistrates’ Association is available at: www.magistrates-association.org.uk/

If you are appointed, may we pass your details (name, address, date of birth and local justice area) to the Magistrates’ Association, so that they can contact you about the Association?

Yes No

Your details will not be disclosed without your permission and will not be passed to any other organisation.

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http://www.magistrates-association.org.uk/


PERSONAL INFORMATION

This information will be removed prior to applications being assessed

Title Mr Miss Ms Mrs Dr

Other (please state)

Surname

Forename(s)

Previous surname (if any)

Date of birth D M Year

Home address (including post code)

Telephone Home

Work

Mobile

Contact email

Nationality

Country of birth

How many years have you lived in the local area?

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EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Certain occupations (including past occupations) may affect your eligibility to serve as a magistrate.

Refer to Appendix C of the Candidate information.

Please provide full information about your employment status and history:

Employment status Employed Self-employed

Retired Not in paid employment

Other (please state)

Current occupation (if applicable). Please include job title and details of what the roles involves

Name and address of current employer

Brief description of work

Time with employer

Is the role? Full Time Part Time

Hours per week

Fixed Term (end date)

D M Year

Please confirm that you have discussed your intention to apply to become a magistrate with your employer and have their agreement to take the necessary time off work if you are appointed.

Please give details of any other occupations in which you have been employed in the last ten years, starting with the most recent:

Occupation Employer From To

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FORMTEXT

In limited cases, the occupation of a spouse, partner or close relative may affect your eligibility.

Refer to Candidate Information for further information.

Is your spouse/partner in any form of employment?

Yes (Please state their occupation)

No Not applicable

Has your spouse, partner or a close relative worked as any of the following - Police Officer, Special Constable, Police Community Support Officer, civilian employee of a police force, Traffic Warden, Crown Prosecution Service or Prison Service employee, Children’s Guardian, NSPCC employee, social worker, or in any other occupation whose work involves attending court?

Yes (see below) No Not applicable

If you answered yes above, please describe the person’s (or persons’) relationship to you, their occupation, where it is (or was) carried out, and their approximate dates of employment:

REFERENCES

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All applicants must provide the names of three people who have agreed to act as referees. Please complete Appendix B.

REASONS FOR APPLYING TO BECOME A MAGISTRATE AND PERSONAL QUALITIES

It is important that you refer to the candidate information before completing this section so that you understand what we are looking for and how this information will be used to assess your application

Please explain what has motivated you to apply to become a magistrate (maximum 300 words)

The six key qualities required of all magistrates are: Good Character; Understanding and Communication; Social Awareness; Maturity and Sound Temperament; Sound Judgement; Commitment and Reliability.

Please provide some examples of how you believe you meet each of the six key qualities. Please give your most relevant examples. These could be from past or present employment, from voluntary, community or leisure activities or from your home life.

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The examples you provide can be from work or of how you have demonstrated these qualities through your work and/or in other areas of your lifeEach key quality example should be a maximum of 300 words

Good Character (maximum of 300 words)

Understanding and communication (maximum of 300 words)

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Social Awareness (maximum 300 words)

Maturity and Sound temperament (maximum 300 words)

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Sound Judgement (maximum 300 words)

Commitment and Reliability (maximum 300 words)

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Voluntary work can sometimes provide an eligibility conflict. Please provide a brief description of any voluntary work you are currently doing or have done in the past:

CONVICTIONS, CAUTIONS AND CIVIL ORDERS Please read the Candidate Information carefully before completing this section.

Are you involved in any of the proceedings referred to at Appendix B - ‘Involvement in Current Proceedings’?

Yes No

If you answered yes, please provide details below:

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Have you been involved in any current or previous family proceedings referred to at Appendix B in the Candidate Information? We ask this question to establish if there are any potential conflicts, should you be appointed as a family magistrate

Yes No


Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence? (Do not include fixed penalty notices for motoring offences.)

Yes No

If you answered yes, please provide details below. You must disclose all previous convictions irrespective of when they were received.

Offence Date of Conviction Name of Court Sentence or Penalty

Have you ever received a Police Caution?

Yes No

If you answered yes, please provide details below. You must disclose all cautions irrespective of when they were received.

Offence Date of Caution Conditions Attached to the Caution (if applicable)

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Have you received any Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN), including for a driving offence, within the last 4 years?

Yes No


Offence Date of FPN Amount of Fine

Have you regained your driving licence within the last 4 years following disqualification from driving?

Yes No


Offence Date of Disqualification Date on which licence regained

Do you currently have penalty points endorsed on your driving licence (this includes points endorsed as a result of receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice)?

Yes No

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Offence Date of Endorsement Number of Penalty Points

Have you received a Penalty Notice for Disorder (PND) within the last 4 years?

Yes No


Offence Date of PND Amount of Fine

Are you subject to any of the civil orders (or an Individual Voluntary Arrangement) which qualify for disclosure under Appendix D, Section 7- ‘Bankruptcy, Individual Voluntary Arrangements and County Court Judgements’?

Yes No


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To the best of your knowledge, has a spouse, partner, close relative or close friend received convictions or cautions which would qualify for disclosure under Appendix D, Section 7 - ‘Spouses, Partners, Close Relatives and Close Friends’?

Yes No


Excluding any information already provided above, is there anything else in your private or working life, past or present, which could damage your credibility as a magistrate if it became known to the public?

Yes No


DECLARATION

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The information that I have given in this application is true and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that my application is liable to be rejected if I knowingly fail to disclose relevant information.

(Please sign electronically or by hand).

Signed: Date:

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Date post:	26-May-2020
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