The Government has launched a nationwide campaign to recruit thousands of new magistrates, calling on people from all walks of life to volunteer and help deliver
justice in local communities across England and Wales.
Announced on 3 January, the drive aims to recruit more than 2,000 additional magistrates in the next financial year—matching the number trained since 2022—as part of the Government’s Plan for Change to speed up justice for victims and strengthen public protection.
Magistrates are unpaid volunteers who hear the majority of court cases, including criminal, youth, family and some civil matters. They are expected to sit for at least 13 days a year, a commitment designed to be manageable alongside full-time work and caring responsibilities.
Latest figures show the magistracy broadly reflects the communities it serves, with women making up 57 per cent of magistrates and 14 per cent coming from ethnic minority backgrounds. London has the highest proportion of magistrates from ethnic minority groups, at 31 per cent.
Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, said: “Magistrates play a vital role in our court system – hearing thousands of cases across every jurisdiction and delivering justice.
They are everyday heroes – and we need more people of every age and background to volunteer not just to deliver justice but to serve and represent their local communities.
Volunteering to become a magistrate can make a real difference to your life and the lives of others – that’s why I’m calling on the public to apply and play your part”.
The recruitment campaign follows new research suggesting 45 per cent of people in England and Wales would consider volunteering in the next 12 months.
Successful applicants receive comprehensive training, support from specialist legal advisers and a dedicated mentor during their first year. The Ministry of Justice and the judiciary say they are looking for candidates with strong communication skills, a sense of fairness and the ability to weigh different sides of an argument.
Roles are available across criminal courts, youth justice, and selected family and civil proceedings, as the Government seeks to bolster the magistracy and reduce delays in the justice system. Photo by NoName_13, Wikimedia commons.