1.3 Legal Personnel

2026 Syllabus Objectives

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

  • Identify and explain the different levels of judges in the English legal system
  • Describe the qualifications required to become a judge at each level
  • Explain how judges are selected and appointed
  • Describe the roles that different judges perform
  • Explain how judges are trained
  • Describe how judges retire, are removed, or face disciplinary action
  • Explain what judicial independence means and why it matters
  • Describe the separation of powers and how it protects citizens

Part 1: The Judiciary — Who Are the Judges?

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The judiciary is the collective word for all judges in the English legal system. Think of it like a team — and that team has different levels, just like a school has teachers, heads of department, and a headteacher.

The head of the entire judiciary is called the Lord Chief Justice.

Two Main Levels of Judge

Judges are divided into two broad groups:

1. Superior Judges These are High Court Judges and above. They sit in the most powerful courts. This group includes:

  • Justices of the Supreme Court (the most senior judges in the country)
  • Lords Justices of Appeal (judges in the Court of Appeal)
  • High Court Judges

2. Inferior Judges These are Circuit Judges and below. They handle less complex or less serious cases. This group includes:

  • Circuit Judges
  • Recorders (part-time judges)
  • District Judges
  • District Judges (Magistrates' Courts)

💡 Simple way to remember it: Superior = higher courts, more serious work. Inferior = lower courts, less serious work. "Inferior" here does NOT mean worse — it just means lower in the hierarchy.

Part 2: Qualifications — What Do You Need to Become a Judge?

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To become a judge at any level, a person must meet what are called judicial appointment eligibility conditions. This means they must:

  1. Have a relevant legal qualification — they must be a qualified barrister, solicitor, or in some cases, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), a Registered Patent Attorney, or a Trade Mark Attorney
  2. Have gained legal experience for a required number of years

The table below summarises the qualifications needed for each level:

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