A judge is someone who interprets the law and applies it to cases. Judges make decisions that can affect the rights of individuals, families, and businesses.
Judges also decide whether laws have been broken and apply punishments accordingly.
Judges are trained to look beyond the technical legalities of a case to find justice for those involved in it.
If you want to know the degrees and training requirements needed to become a judge, this article on how to become a judge will greatly benefit you.
Judge Job Duties
Judges preside over court hearings and trials, oversee court proceedings, and enforce the rights of individuals involved in the court process.
They ensure that court proceedings are conducted according to established rules and procedures, including determining how testimony is given, and evidence presented.
In non-jury criminal trials, judges decide the defendant’s guilt or innocence, and in civil cases, they decide liability and compensation. These experts may be elected by the public or appointed by governments.
The demands of a judge’s job include long hours preparing for hearings and sometimes traveling to them. Must also be available on call for emergencies.
The process to become a judge is not short, although the time required to complete this career path can vary widely. Becoming a lawyer takes about seven years, including four years of university studies and three years of law school.
After that, most people spend a few years practicing law before running for a judgeship. So the question of how long it takes to become a judge depends on the path one takes.
How To Become A Judge
Obtain A Bachelor’s Degree
A bachelor’s degree is required for most judicial positions, but not all. For example, you can get a law degree without taking classes in criminal justice and/or sociology.
The same goes for other areas of study like history or political science; these majors may or may not prove helpful depending on your goals.
To obtain your bachelor’s degree, you will need to take at least 120 credit hours over four years (or five semesters).
It usually takes about two years from start to finish if you’re able to complete all the necessary coursework before graduation begins. If this seems dauntingly long-term compared with other options available to you right now, don’t worry.
During this time when school is still happening anyway but also isn’t yet happening, you can find work opportunities while continuing your education by getting involved in extracurricular activities like internships that relate directly to your interests.
Read More: Criminal Lawyer: Majors For Aspiring Criminal Lawyers
Complete Law School
Law school is a four-year program and requires you to complete your undergraduate degree first. These Law schools are accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). You can do research if your school is accredited by visiting their website.
There are over 150 law schools in the States, so choosing one that fits your career goals and values before starting law school is important.
While most people think of lawyers as male, many female attorneys work in corporate law or public interest activism.
Take The BAR Exam
The Bar exam is a test that attorneys must pass in order to become licensed attorneys. It’s offered three times a year and is administered by the state bar of each jurisdiction where you wish to practice law.
To take the BAR exam, you must first graduate from an accredited law school and then register with your home state’s board of bar examiners (BBE).
The BBE will allow you to sit for the jurisprudence exam once you have passed all other components of their licensing process; this can take place one month before or after your residency requirement begins.
If you plan on becoming a judge but haven’t yet taken care of any other requirements, this is also where they will tell if there’s anything else they need from you before granting approval.
Pass The Judicial Selection Process
The Judicial Selection Process is the second step of becoming a judge. In this process, you will learn about various types of judges and courts, their duties, and their responsibilities.
You also need to pass an exam given by the Bar Council or State Bar Council (SC/ST/OBC) with a minimum of 60% marks in general studies or vocational training curriculum, which includes topics like law, criminal procedure code, etc., whereas for other categories it should be at least 50%.
The essential point here is that you must have sound knowledge about the working conditions required for judges before appearing for any test to ensure no difficulty while defending.
Work As A Law Clerk For A Court Of Appeals Or District Court Judge
If you want to become a judge and don’t have the time or money for law school, consider becoming a law clerk for a court of appeals or district court judge.
Law clerical staff are usually recent law school graduates who have worked as paralegals or legal assistants before starting their own practice.
They assist judges in their work by writing opinions and briefs (legal documents), researching cases, and assisting with case management tasks.
These tasks include scheduling hearings, conducting research into relevant laws and regulations, and preparing oral arguments before judges and other judicial officers on behalf of litigants.
Work As An Attorney
If you want to become a judge, it’s important that you work as an attorney for at least three years. This will give you experience working in your chosen practice area and also help prepare you for the rigors of being a judge.
You can work on any type of case throughout your career as an attorney: civil litigation, criminal defense, family law, or estate planning, like wills. You might even end up handling cases involving international trade issues or contracts with foreign countries.
If possible, try to get experience by doing different types of work before deciding which type of cases will be most applicable to your future career goals.
This way, when push comes to shove on day one of the training sessions with judges from other jurisdictions or states/provinces where they have never practiced before, then those deep-rooted habits may still come out automatically without having thought much about them beforehand.
Read Also: Is An Associate’s Degree In Criminal Justice...
Gain Experience In Litigation And Alternative Dispute Resolution
The best way to prepare for becoming a judge is by gaining experience in litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
Litigation experience is important because it teaches you how to practice law at the highest level, while alternative dispute resolution (ADR) helps you understand how people communicate with each other.
Some examples of litigation or ADR experience include:
- Working as a mediator in family court cases
- Serving as an arbitrator or justice of the peace in small claims courts
Choose A Specialty
Choosing a specialty is important if you’re interested in becoming a judge. There are four areas of law in which judges specialize: criminal, civil, family, and appellate.
Each specialization can help you get a job as an attorney or another type of licensed professional. They may also help you get hired as an arbitrator who settles disputes between two parties.
Become A State Court Judge
You must be a U.S. citizen and have lived for at least six months. You must be at least 26 years old to become a state court judge and have also practiced law for five years before applying for the position.
Become A Federal Court Judge
You will serve on federal district courts and certain other courts as a federal judge. These include:
- The Federal Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit;
- The United States District Court for Columbia or Northern Virginia; and
- The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of New York, Central District of California, or Western District of Texas (each may have separate divisions).
FAQ
Who Is The Youngest Judge In America?
Twitty majored in political science at the College of Charleston. She worked for the Greenville County Bond Court earlier on as a night clerk.
After completing the training program and passing the certification exam, Twitty was sworn in as a judge at the age of 25.
Who Is More Powerful, IAS Or Judge?
Judges are known to have judicial powers, while IAS have executive powers. However, a judge can summon an executive officer like an IAS/IPS to court, punish him, and order him to do/not do certain things. The reverse is impossible, as the IAS/IPS cannot exercise any power over the Judge.
What Is The Lowest Salary Of A Judge In India?
The official starting salary of a judge in India is INR 5.43 LPA.
What Is The Minimum Age For A Judge?
He must be a citizen of the country in question or another nationality declared eligible by the Government. The minimum age to apply for the position of civil Judge is 21 years, and the maximum is 35 years.
Who Is The Best Judge Of All Time?
John Marshall is the greatest Judge in American history, Brookhiser declares in a grand opening line that sets the left-wing tone for the rest of the book.
Is The Judiciary Exam Easy?
First of all, you need to understand that clearing the BAR exam is a tedious task but not an impossible task. If you dedicate yourself to your goal with the right attitude, you can definitely crack the exam on the first attempt.
Can A Judge Suspend IAS?
Simply put, only the President of India can suspend or dismiss IAS officers after reviewing their cases. The central Government also has rights in this matter.
Who Can Suspend A Judge In India?
A judge of any Supreme Court can be suspended or removed only by order of the President passed and supported by the majority of the house members in the Government.
Which Judge Has The Highest Salary?
90,000 per month, including basic pay, allowances, and perks. A Supreme Court judge will have a higher salary, and the Chief Justice of India will be paid more than a Supreme Court judge.
Is Judge A Good Career?
It is a job with a high degree of responsibility, and it is a highly respected position. You can serve the nation by becoming a judge.
A career as a judge will provide you with financial and job security. You will have enough time to balance your personal and work life
Conclusion
We hope this article on how to become a judge has given you the insights that you need.
If you are very interested and want to learn more about the process, we recommend that you contact your state’s judicial selection committee to get started.
They can help guide you through the application process and explain how your background might qualify you for certain positions.
Good Luck!
