Judicial role play

The Judicial Appointments Commission has published an analysis of the appointment of solicitors to judicial roles over the period 1999-2009. Solicitors cannot be appointed to the judiciary unless they apply-the practice of being tapped on the shoulder has long since gone, even if it ever applied to the solicitors’ branch of the profession. The problem is that not enough solicitors apply for some judicial roles, for example the number of solicitors applying for and being appointed as circuit judges has not increased. The research commissioned by the JAC clearly shows that solicitors are much less likely than barristers to regard becoming a judge as part of their career; many solicitors feel they are not supported by their firms when they do apply for judicial post and half said the reason they had not applied was because they were happy with their current job. The position was considered by Edward Nally, a former president of the Law Society and a judicial appointments commissioner in the New Law Journal of 10 December 2010. In conjunction with the Law Society the JAC continues to encourage solicitor firms to recognise the positive benefits of judicial appointment in terms of enhancing both their own reputation and the services they provide to their clients. A Diversity Forum has been established which brings together all those in positions to make a real difference to the future composition of the judiciary and to collaborate effectively in identifying and breaking down the barriers.