Are you right for the job?
Thinking about a career as a judge? Check out this list of skills and learn how to develop them.
Analytical Skills
Judges must be ready to analyse and understand detailed and sometimes complicated information that is presented to them. When applying the law to a case and making decisions they have to know and understand difficult legal concepts and be able to back up their judgments rationally.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You often guess the ending to a suspense movie or crime novel.
- You find it easy to understand new material at school.
- You are curious and like to work on complex problems, such as Sudoku.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Read interesting books and tell your friends about them in your own words.
- Watch informative TV shows and documentaries on a variety of subjects, such as politics, technology or sciences.
- Play games that require logic and strategy, such as chess, checkers or Risk.
Listening skills
Judges have to have impeccable listening skills. After all, listening to statements made by witnesses and lawyers’ arguments without being distracted is a large part of their job! Being a good judge demands concentration, attention and patience.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You attentively listen to your friend’s private stories (and don’t share them with others).
- You listen to, but never interrupt, conversations between friends.
- You can easily remember the details of a story someone has told you.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Learn how to become an active listener (use techniques that help you remember what people tell you).
- Become a member of a support group to show that you can handle confidential information.
- Make a habit of mentally repeating key words when studying for exams.
Management Skills
A courtroom is a busy place, and judges must keep things in order when lawyers, parties, witnesses, court staff and the public are all in one place at the same time! A judge must be able to manage a court hearing from start to finish, and command attention when needed. Judges must also sometimes direct a jury and make sure they are given the right instructions and have the proper information to make a decision.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You have lots of ideas for projects and are able to get people interested in these projects.
- You take initiative when working as part of a group.
- You can juggle many activities in a day and you are rarely overwhelmed by events.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Run for class president.
- Become a committee member for your school or your local youth centre.
- Become a camp counsellor, which will require you to plan the day’s activities and ensure that everyone follows the schedule.
Neutrality
Judges must be impartial; they cannot take sides and must make their decisions based on the facts presented to them, not their personal opinions. It’s important that judges keep their personal life separate from their work so that everyone that comes before them has a fair hearing.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You are fair-minded during an argument between two people, even if your best friend is involved.
- You help people resolve conflicts without being controlled by your emotions.
- You can find solutions to issues involving your parents and your teachers.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Put yourself in the shoes of someone who does not share your opinions.
- Play the role of a mediator during a heated discussion between your friends and reconcile their points of view.
- Before giving your opinion on a topic that you don’t know much about, learn more about it so you can weigh the pros and cons.
