Application Form FAQ

Where can I find an application form?
Examples of previous application forms can be found in the current selection exercise section of our website. There is a tailored application form for every exercise.

Is there a generic application form I can fill in?
Every selection exercise has its own application form but they all follow a similar approach.

Where are vacancies advertised?
Most positions are advertised in the national press (The Times Law Supplement for legal vacancies), legal publications, and professional publications and online.

We also work with a range of key interested parties to disseminate information about specific appointments and about the judicial appointments process in general.

How will the self-assessment section of my application form be used?
Where a qualifying test is used (which it is in the majority of cases) information provided on the self-assessment application form is used only at the selection day and provides part of the overall information used to assess your suitability for the role you have applied for.

Where a qualifying test is not used the short-listing decision is taken on the basis of information contained in your self assessment application form and from information supplied by your nominated referees.

What should I put on my self assessment?
The JAC uses five qualities and abilities to select for judicial office. These are: intellectual capacity; personal qualities; an ability to understand and deal fairly; authority and communication skills; and efficiency. We need you to provide evidence how you demonstrate these qualities and abilities to the level required for the role you are seeking.

Will you require my salary or previous years earnings?
No. The JAC does not believe that this is a relevant consideration when deciding whether someone had the necessary qualities and abilities to become a good Judge.

Why do you use qualifying tests for shortlisting not the application form?
The JAC adopted qualifying tests as an alternative and more objective method for taking shortlisting decisions in 2006/07.  However, we tailor our processes appropriately and might not use a qualifying test when there is a small number of vacancies and in other limited circumstances.

What if I have more examples than I can fit onto the form?
Use what you feel are your strongest examples on the application form but you should keep a note of others that you feel are relevant. It is good to have additional evidence to support your application at the selection day.

Should I only use examples from my current job?
It is up to you. Examples do not all have to be from your current or most recent employment.  You can include examples from other areas of your life if you feel they demonstrate the required qualities and abilities.

Can I include examples from situations outside of my work?
Yes. If you feel the example shows that you the have necessary qualities and abilities you can include it. If you are a school governor or a trustee with a charity you may feel that these areas of your life have provided opportunities to demonstrate the qualities and abilities required.

Who should I chose as my referees?
We ask candidates to nominate three referees of their own, up to six for High Court selection exercises. You can choose anyone you wish but we suggest that at least one should be able to comment on your current employment.  Not all of your referees have to be able to comment on your work.  You can choose to include someone who can give examples of your qualities and abilities in a different non-work setting if you wish (such as your work as a school governor or a trustee of a charity).

What should I ask my referees to write?
Always check that your referee is willing and able to supply a reference for you. It is best to discuss the post you're applying for with the referee, so that they have a clear idea of what is needed. The most valuable references are ones which offer evidence rather than assertion of your abilities. You should ask your referees to include examples of occasions where you demonstrated the qualities and abilities required for the role you are seeking.

In the application packs it specifically talks about solicitors using their senior partner as a referee. What should sole practitioners do?
Our advice is that you should choose a referee who has direct knowledge of the work you do. This can be someone you work for, with, or on behalf of.  The position held by the referee does not matter, but the quality of what they are able to say about you does.  If you work in a firm with others, a referee might be a senior partner.  If you are a sole practitioner, depending upon the scope of your work, your referee could be a client, a JP, a local authority or housing association officer, for example.  The really important thing is the quality of the reference - does it address the qualities that the job description seeks and does the referee know your work well.

It is best to discuss the post you're applying for with the referee, so that they have a clear idea of what is needed.

Why does the process take such a long time?
We can appreciate from a candidate's point of view it can feel a long time, but there are a number of important steps in the process.

We try to keep the timetable as short as possible but we must allow a certain amount of time for candidates to prepare for interview, for the interviews to take place, for referees to supply us references, and for Criminal Records Bureau, Bar Standards Board, Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and others to respond to the statutory good character checks we have to make.

We usually complete smaller exercises in eight to twelve weeks but exercises can take longer than this where we receive several hundred applications.

We always give a timetable in the information pack to candidates to let them know likely dates for the qualifying test and interview stages and also to let them know approximately how long our part of the process will take.

What are s87 vacancy requests and s94 vacancy requests?
Under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (CRA), the JAC can be asked by the Ministry of Justice to run two different types of exercises: those held under section 87 for specific vacancies, and those held under section 94, under which the Lord Chancellor requests the JAC to draw up a list of people who are potentially selectable for vacancies for a specific type of appointment which may, or may not, arise later.

 

If I am unhappy about how my application has been handled what can I do?
Candidates are advised to wait until receiving a written explanation regarding their application before lodging a formal complaint. We aim to respond to a complaint within 20 working days of receiving it. 

If you are not satisfied with the JAC's response you can refer the complaint to the Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman to investigate further.

Our complaints policy is available here.