Judicial Assistants

The judicial assistant scheme

During their period with the court, the assistants give invaluable help to members of the court by clarifying issues in advance; sorting out the shape and nature of the appeal in less well-presented cases; and undertaking specific items of research. Their work is significantly different from that of law clerks in other jurisdictions.

Being a Judicial Assistant is extremely challenging, requiring assistants to engage on equal terms with the Lords Justices and to adapt immediately to the court and its procedures and practices.  It is of benefit to the legal system as a whole for barristers and solicitors to have the benefit of the experience.

Apart from the interests of the court, a period as a judicial assistant offers much to the both candidate, and chambers, in terms of depth of understanding both of the law and of the appellate process.

Our budget provides for ten assistants at any one time.

Some successful applicants serve for one term only, as they are high-achieving young lawyers at the start of their careers who can only be spared from their chambers or law firm for a limited period.  The scheme is very successful and having a limit of two terms means that from the hundreds of applications received more chances can be given to more people, making the competition fair for all.   

Next Recruitment Campaign

The next recruitment campaign will commence on 13 December 2010, when the post will be advertised in the Job Vacancies section on this website, as well as on-line in the Law Society Gazette, www.legalweek.co.uk, www.thetimes.co.uk and www.totallylegal.co.uk.  The period of service will cover the Easter and Trinity 2011 terms, from 3rd May to 29th July 2011.