The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission (NIJAC) has launched a major recruitment scheme seeking 119 new Lay Magistrates to serve in Youth and Family Proceedings Courts across Northern Ireland.

The campaign aims to attract people from all parts of the community and from a wide range of backgrounds. Lay Magistrates work alongside experienced judges and play a vital role in making decisions affecting some of the most vulnerable individuals in society.

They bring independent judgement, real life experience and local community insight to the courtroom, helping to strengthen fairness, transparency and public confidence in the justice system. They also perform a range of signatory duties Lay Magistrates are appointed to one of three Administrative Court Divisions (ACDs) -

South Eastern (55 vacancies), North Eastern (36 vacancies) and Western (28 vacancies). They are also expected to complete around 10 court sittings per year, share duties fairly, undertake some out-of-hours work, and attend required training.

The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission has launched the Lay Magistrates Scheme for applications across Northern Ireland. Credit: Thana Prasongsin/Getty Images

placeholder image — The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission has launched the Lay Magistrates Scheme for applications across Northern Ireland. Credit: Thana Prasongsin/Getty Images

Fees as of September 2025 are as follows:

Full day attendance: £226.92

Full day training: £88.98

Half day attendance: £113.46

Half day training: £44.48

To be eligible, applicants must be aged between 18 and 74 and resident in Northern Ireland. What matters most is integrity, fairness, sound judgement and the ability to make balanced decisions. Under statutory rules, certain roles make individuals ineligible, including practising barristers or solicitors, police officers, prison officers, members of the armed forces, elected representatives, and individuals whose employment may create conflicts of interest or undermine impartiality.

All appointments will be made solely on the basis of merit, using fair and robust assessment methods designed to identify applicants who best meet the needs of the role.

To support prospective applicants, NIJAC has created a dedicated Lay Magistrates Hub, offering information about the role, guidance materials and details of the Selection Process.

The Right Honourable Dame Siobhan Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and Chair of NIJAC explained: “Lay Magistrates are incredibly valuable to the justice system. They bring the voice and perspective of the local community into the courtroom. They come from different walks of life, professions, and backgrounds and that diversity of experience ensures that decisions aren’t made in isolation but reflect broader societal values. The Lay Magistrates Scheme offers an important opportunity for local people to contribute meaningfully to the justice system, reinforcing the vital connection between the courts and the communities they serve.”

Tonya McCormac, CEO of NIJAC, continueed: “It’s been 20 years since the last competition was carried out to recruit Lay Magistrates. This recruitment scheme presents an important opportunity for NIJAC to reach out

across Northern Ireland and engage with local communities, encouraging applications from a wide range of people, ensuring the judiciary in Northern Ireland is reflective of the community it serves. I would encourage people to visit NIJAC’s Lay Magistrates Hub on our website, find out some more information and consider applying for this important role in the judiciary ensuring that community remains at the heart of justice.”

Full details on how to apply, role information, eligibility criteria, the Selection Process and the online application portal can be found at: www.nijac.gov.uk/laymagistrateshub

Applications are now open and close on July 7, 2026.