To be a court judge means to rise to the top of the legal system and to guard it (guardian of the laws). A judge is a topmost person (most honorable) in the court.
If you are a person who wants to be a part of judicial public services, then this article “How to Become a Judge” is for you. Here you will find every aspect of the step-by-step process of becoming a judge, from the beginning (12th) to the end (judge) of becoming a court judge.
Before reading this article further you have to ask yourself a question. Are you really inclined to be a judge? If yes then, you must be passionate about it. Because until you reach the final stage (until you become a judge), you will have to face many difficulties.
In this article “ How to become a judge ”, you will get all the following information
You should keep these two things in mind before choosing the path of becoming a judge
[1] This career option will not be the right career option for you unless you are dedicated and passionate about it.
Why so? As you know that the courts are part of the Government of India, so the judges also come under the Government of India. So to appoint us as a judge an exam is conducted by the Government of India which you have to pass.
To become a court judge, the exam you are going to compete in is definitely not going to be easy. But passing is not impossible. The details of the exam are given below in this article on “How to become a judge”.
[2] Patience to reach the goal:
Generally, it takes a little more time than other career options available in law to get appointed as a court judge, but the end result will change your whole life (quite interestingly, court judge) become)|
Meaning you have to be patient to achieve your goal. It will take you at least 5- to-7 years to get appointed as a court judge and magistrate (after class 10th).
Friends, my motive is not to scare you or break your spirit, but if you are choosing a judge career option then you have to be ready for these two things because today or tomorrow you will have to face them. That’s why I have told you the truth, for which you should be prepared.
That doesn’t mean you can’t become a court judge. It is 200% possible that you can become an honorable judge of a court and even you can become the Chief Justice of Supreme Court /Chief Justice of India (CJI). What you need is to keep the above-mentioned two points in mind and take it in a positive way.
Judiciary can be a great career option, you just need to be patient till the period of becoming a judge of the court and keep motivating yourself during that period.
What Judge (Judge) and the Magistrate (Magistrate) Is there any difference between?
The terms judge and magistrate are often used interchangeably and therefore seem to be related and similar. But they are not the same word from a law perspective.
According to the judiciary system, there is a big difference between the two. A judge is the owner (custodian) of more administrative officers and power than a magistrate.
Judge: Being the judge of the court you have to hear the cases of all the matters (major, minor, constitutional, criminal matters, etc.) and provide solutions (judgments) on those matters.
Magistrate: A magistrate usually hears minor (minor offenses) cases in court. The magistrate hears the cases only in the district-level subordinate courts and gives verdicts on them.
One thing that can be generally seen in both professions is that they are part of the judiciary system and both have the authority and responsibility to decide the case and provide justice to the victims. This is the reason for creating confusion in our little brain. That’s why we both seem to be the same personality.
What is the Primary Education to Become a Judge
To become a court judge first and foremost you must have a degree in law, LLB (Bachelor of Law). Means of a before becoming judge Loire will be |
In earlier days you had only one simple academic course option to become a Lawyer BA LLB. But nowadays students have many courses to do LLB, which is also known as LLB integrated program. You can choose any LLB program from them.
You have two options to get an LLB degree, i.e. you have two different paths to become a Lawyer, so you can choose any one of these paths, based on your current qualification. Click here to know more about these two options of LLB degree.
Do I have to do LLM (Master of Laws) and PhD in Law to become a court judge and magistrate ?
No! You don’t need Masters’s and Ph.D. degrees to become a judge and magistrate in court. However, if you want to increase your knowledge of different types of laws then you must go for it.
But generally, no Masters and Ph.D. are required to get elected in any district or state level judicial service examination.
What is Judicial Service Examination ?
If you want to sit in the judge’s chair after completing LLB without any prior experience then you have to compete in the judicial services exam as every judicial service aspirant does. There is no better option than to become a judge at the district level.
Being a fresher, the judicial service exam is the only way to become a district or subordinate court, judge.
The Judicial Service Exam is conducted under the rules of the State Public Service Commission.
Each state has its own judicial examination to fill the vacant seats of judges and magistrates in the district-level court.
As you are a fresher now, and may not have any prior experience in litigation and judicial services. So you have to start your career as a judge from the lower level judiciary, i.e. district level court.
There are many different types of judge postings in the lower courts as well. Let us know in this article on “How to Become a Judge” that what designation will you get in these lower-level courts after clearing the judicial service exam?
First of all, you need to know the Hierarchy of the Indian Judicial System.
The structure of the Indian judicial system
The Indian judiciary system functions in a three-tier structure, consisting of the Supreme Court (at the national level), the High Court (at the state level), and the subordinate courts (at the district level).
The court at the top of the hierarchy enjoys more constitutional powers and authority than the court at the bottom. The High Court supervises the lower-level courts.
The purpose of this article “How to become a judge” is to give information about how to become a court judge without any prior experience in the judiciary.
And without any experience, you cannot go to High Court and Supreme Court, so our only option is Subordinate Court, in which you can become a judge after completing your law degree.
Which posting will you get after clearing the Judicial Service Examination?
- Designation of Judges in Civil Court (in descending order)
- District and Sessions Judge/ District Judge
- Additional District and Sessions Judge/ Additional District Judge
- Sub Judge
Why have I mentioned District and Sessions Judge as the same designation? Because sometimes (in most cases) you will find that the same judge is responsible for hearing civil cases as well as criminal cases. That is why the judges in the district court are designated along with the district and sessions judge.
Designations of Judges in the Court of Session (in descending order)
- Session Judge (Chief Judge)
- Additional Session Judge
- Chief Judicial Magistrate/ Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC)
- Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate
- Metropolitan Magistrate
- Judicial Magistrate Second Class (JMSC)
After passing the Judicial Service Exam you will get such types of designations; Excluding the postings of District Judge and Sessions Judge.
A District and Sessions Judge is the top judge (Chief Justice of the District Court) in a subordinate court. So if you want to reach the top of the district level of the judiciary, so a few years of experience in the judiciary should be.
How to become District and Session Judge (Chief Judge in District Court)
You have to fulfill certain essential criteria to get the highest position in the subordinate court.
Following are the eligibility criteria to become a District and Sessions Judge…
He was a lawyer (for at least 7 years Advocate happening) and should be advocating in any Indian court
The applicant should not be in the service of any state or central government, i.e. the applicant should not have any government job.
Must be a competent lawyer in the eyes of a High Court Judge (Eminent Lawyer)
This is another way to reach the highest position in the district level court, which you can achieve in a few years by becoming a lawyer. (The first method is by examination, which is explained above in this article on “How to become a judge”)
Who appoints the judges in the subordinate/district court?
District and Sessions Judges are appointed by the Governor of the State after consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court of the State.
Other judges in the district courts (except District and Sessions Judge) are appointed by the Governor of the state after consultation with the State Public Service Commission and the High Court.
What are the qualities and skills a Court Judge/Magistrate should possess? (Skills Set)
As we know that the judge is the most respected and respected person in the court. But do you know that his qualities and abilities set him apart from other law officers?
Sitting on the top chair of the court or achieving that position is not an easy task. For this, you need to develop certain qualities and abilities in yourself and you must deserve it to sit on that coveted chair of the court.
Judges must have these 6 key skills and qualifications …
Responsibility: A judge should know that they are following the laws in the Constitution what they do. Maintain the humility and dignity of the chair you are sitting in.
In court, if the judge is corrupt (i.e. if the judge does not know the responsibilities of the position he enjoys in the judiciary system) then where will the citizen/public go for justice.
So it is really important for the judge and magistrate to know what he is responsible for and understand them.
Understanding of Justice: As far as justice is concerned, judges take decisions after analyzing the legal laws in the constitution and based on evidence. No emotional judgment can be given by a Hon’ble Court Judge. The judge proceeds the case on the basis of the evidence provided by the prosecutor in the court.
Analytical: Being a judge is required to have analytical skills. Because as a court judge, you have to check a lot of documents in a day. As an active judge of the court, you examine the evidence/documents presented by the prosecution.
And as a judge, in a short span of time, you have to go through the evidence accumulated because you have to hear many cases in a day. By the way, there is a law clerk for this work who helps the judge in this work.
Patience: Why Patience? Let’s say you have to listen to one thing all day long, the same accusations. Certainly, it is not easy to sit in the chair of justice and actively and patiently listen to all the arguments.
Before giving the verdict in any case, the judge has to patiently listen to all the things and then give the verdict on it, so it is very important for a judge to be patient.
English: All the judicial procedures in India are done in the English language. The official language of Indian courts is English, so if you are going to become a judge then you must know English.
Good listening and communication skills: Most of the time, this skill is used by judges and magistrates during proceedings. The question in your mind will be how listening is such an important skill. Because unless you listen properly, how will you make your decision on any subject properly?
In court, you have to pay attention to every word of the prosecutor and other facts related to the case. Because no one is going to repeat the same word over and over again. That’s why it is very important that you are now ready to develop listening and conversation skills.
So these are some of the professional qualities and skills that you have to inculcate in yourself. If you want to become a court judge and magistrate, then you will need them.
Also, Read – How to Become a Lawyer?
