How to become a judge? To be a court judge means to get to the top of the legal law system and guard it (guardian of the laws). A judge is a top person (the most honourable) in the court.
If you are a person who wants to be a part of public judicial services, then this article “How to be a Judge” is for you. Here you will get every aspect of the step-by-step process of becoming a judge, from the beginning (12th) to the end (Judge) until you become the court’s judgment.
You will have to ask yourself a question before reading this article further. Are you inclined to be a judge? If yes, you should 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 be a Judge,” you will get all the following information.
There are two things that you should keep in mind before choosing the path to become a judge.
[1] This career option will not be the right career option for you unless you are devoted and passionate about it.
Why? As you know, the courts are part of India’s Government, so the judges also come under India’s Government. To appoint us as a judge, an examination is conducted by the Government of India, which you will have to pass.
To become a court judge, the test you will compete in will certainly not be easy. But it is not impossible to pass. The exam details are given below in this article, “How to be a Judge.”
[2] Patience to reach the goal: It usually takes a little longer than the other career options available in law to be appointed as a court judge, but the result will change your whole life (quite attractive to the court judge. Becoming) |
Meaning you have to be patient to achieve your goal. It will take at least 5-to-7 years for you to be appointed as a court judge and magistrate (after class X).
Friends, my motive is not to scare you or break your spirits, but if you choose the judge career option, you have to be prepared for these two things because you will have to face them nowadays. Therefore, I have told you the truth, for which you should be prepared.
This does not mean that you cannot become a judge of the court. It is 200% possible to become an honourable judge of a court even you can become Chief Justice / Chief Justice of India (CJI) of the Supreme Court. What you need is to keep in mind the two points mentioned above and take it positively.
Judiciary can be a great career option; you need to be patient till the time you become a court judge and keep yourself motivated during that period.
Difference Between a Judge and Magistrate?
The terms judge and magistrate are often used interchangeably, and therefore both 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 more administrative officers and a master of power (custodian) than a magistrate.
Judge
As a judge of the court, you have to hear all the cases (major, minor, constitutional, criminal cases, etc.) and provide a solution (decision) on those cases.
Magistrate
A magistrate usually hears minor (petty offences) cases in court. The magistrate only hears cases in the district-level Courts and gives judgment on them.
One thing that can usually be seen in both the judges and magistrate is that they are part of the judiciary system. Both have the right and responsibility to decide the case and provide justice to the victims. This is the reason for confusing our tiny brains. So we both seem to have the same personality.
What is Primary Education to be a Judge?
To become a judge in court, first and foremost, you must have a degree in Law, LLB (Bachelor of laws). Meaning you have to become a lawyer before becoming a judge.
In the earlier days, you had only one simple academic course option to become a lawyer of 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, depending on your current qualification.
Do I have to do LLM (Master of Laws) and PhD in Law to become a court judge and magistrate?
Do I have to do LLM (Master of Laws) and PhD in Law to become a court judge and magistrate?
No! You do not need a Masters’s and a PhD degree to become a judge and magistrate in court. However, if you want to increase your knowledge of various laws, you must go for it.
But generally, no Masters and PhD are required to be elected in any district or state level judicial service examination.
What is Judicial Service Examination
Suppose you want to sit in the Judge’s chair after completing LLB studies without any prior experience. In that case, you have to contest the judicial service examination as every judicial service candidate does. There is a no better option to become a judge at the district level.
Being a fresher, judicial service examination is the only way to become a district or subordinate court, Judge.
The Judicial Service Examination is conducted under the rules of the State Public Service Commission.
Each state has its judicial examination to complete the vacant seats of judges and magistrates in the district-level court.
As you are now fresher and will probably have no prior experience in litigation and judicial services. Therefore, you have to start your career as a District Court Judge from a lower-level judiciary, i.e., district-level court.
There are many different types of judge postings in lower courts. Let us know in this article “How to become a judge” what designation will you get in these lower-level courts after passing the judicial service examination?
First of all, you will need to know the Hierarchy of the India Judicial System.
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Indian Judicial System Structure
The Indian judiciary system operates in a three-tier structure, which includes the Supreme Court (at the national level), the High Court (at the state level), and the subordinate courts (at the district level).
At the top of the hierarchy, the court has more constitutional powers and powers 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 judge of the court without any prior experience in the judiciary.
And without any experience, you cannot go to the High Court and Supreme Court, so our only option is Subordinate Court, in which you can become a judge after completing your law degree.
If you want to become a judge of the High Court and Supreme Court or become a judge later, you must read these two articles.
Let us know some essential points of these district-level courts and the hierarchy structure within the subordinate courts.
Structure of Indian Subordinate Court / District Court
Courts at a district level and below courts are also known as Subordinate Courts, governed under the state’s High Court. Since subordinate courts fall at the bottom of the three-tier structure hierarchy of the Indian judicial system, it is also known as the Lower Court.
Revenue Court
As the name itself suggests, at the district level, this subordinate court deals with revenue. The Revenue Court is responsible for calculating and collecting the records of income (revenue) generated and revenue (under government rules and regulation) in a district.
Civil Court
This subordinate court hears marriage, divorce, land, property, civil matters, and all those cases in which there is no criminal offence.
Session Court / Criminal Court
The District Sessions Court hears criminal cases such as murder, robbery, and any other criminal activity of any kind.
There are main courts for you as a candidate for judicial services; Civil and Sessions Courts are the two courts where you will be appointed after passing the Judicial Service Examination.
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Which Posting will you get After Passing Judicial Service Examination?
Designation of judges in civil court (in descending order)
- District and Sessions Judge / District Judge (Chief Judge).
- Additional District and Sessions Judge / Additional District Judge.
- Sub Judge.
Why have I given the same designation to the District and Sessions Judge? Because sometimes (in most cases), you will find that a single judge is responsible for hearing civil cases and criminal cases. That is why judges in the district court are nominated along with the District and Sessions Judge.
Designation of judges in Sessions Court (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 examination, you will get this type of designation; Except for District Judge and Sessions Judge’s posting.
A District and Sessions Judge is the apex judge (Chief Justice of the District Court) in a subordinate court. So if you want to reach the top of the district level judiciary, you should have some years of experience in the judiciary.
How to Become District and Session Judge – Chief Judge in District Court
To get the highest position in the subordinate court, you have to meet specific required criteria.
The following are the eligibility criteria to become District and Sessions Judge
- He must have been an Advocate for at least seven years and must be practicing in any Indian court.
- The applicant should not be in the service of any state or central government; that is, the applicant should not have any government servant.
- A High Court Judge (HC Judge) must have a competent lawyer (eminent lawyer)
This is another way to reach the highest position in the district-level court, which you can achieve by becoming a lawyer in a few years. (The first way is by examination, which is mentioned above in this article on “How to be a Judge”)
Who Appoints Judges in Subordinate / District Court?
The Governor of the State appoints the District and Sessions judges after consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court of the State.
Other judges are appointed in the district court (except district and session judge) by the state governor after consultation with the state public service commission and the state’s high court.
What Qualities and Skills Should a Court Judge/Magistrate Possess?
As we know, the Judge is the most respected and honourable person in the court. But do you know that his qualities and competence set him apart from the authorities of other laws?
It is not easy to climb on the top chair of the court or achieve that position. For this, you need to develop certain qualities and abilities within yourself, and you should be worth it to sit on that prestigious chair of the court.
Judges Must have these Six Essential Skills and Qualifications
Responsibility
A judge should know what they are doing by following the laws outlined in the Constitution. Maintain the humility and dignity of the chair you are sitting on.
If the Judge is corrupt (i.e., if the Judge does not know the responsibilities of the position obtained in the judiciary system), where will the citizen/public go for justice? So it is essential 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 make decisions after analyzing the legal laws in the Constitution and based on evidence. The Honorable court judge can render no emotional judgment.
Judges proceed with the case based on the evidence provided by the prosecutor in the court.
Analytical
As a judge, you must have analytical skills. Because based on 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 Advocate.
As a judge, you have to check the evidence you have accumulated in a short period because you have to hear several cases in a day. There is a law clerk for this job who helps the Judge in this work.
Patience
Why, Patience? Suppose you have to listen to one thing throughout the day, the same accusations. Indeed, it is not easy to sit in the chair of justice and listen to all arguments actively and patiently.
In any case, before a judgment is delivered, a judge has to listen patiently and then pronounce a judgment on it, so a judge needs to be patient.
English
All the judicial processes in India are in the English language. The formal language of the Indian courts is English, so if you are going to be a judge, you must know English.
Good Listening and Communication Skills
Judges and magistrates mainly use this skill during proceedings. The question in your mind will be, how is listening to such an important skill?
Because until you listen correctly, how will you make your decision on any subject properly?
You have to pay attention to every word of the prosecutor’s facts and another court case. No one will repeat the same word repeatedly, so it is essential that you, too, be ready to develop your listening and talking skills.
So these are some of the qualities and skills that you have to bring in. If you want to become a court judge and magistrate, you will need them.
To sit on the chair of justice, you need to acquire the above qualities written in this article, “How to be a Judge.”
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How to Become a Judge? Judicial Magistrate without any experience (Only 2 Steps)
Achelor of Laws (LLB)
First of all, you have to become a lawyer (not a court case contestant); you only need a degree of law graduation to follow the steps ahead. Click here to know about career options. A bachelor’s degree in law is mandatory for any legal and law-related services.
After obtaining a law degree (LLB), you have two different paths, as I have already explained in this article on “How to be a Judge.”
- By Judicial Service Examination
- After a few years of experience of advocacy in court by becoming an Advocate
There are two different ways to achieve the goal of becoming a court judge; you can choose any of them, depending on your education.
2. Judicial Service Exam
To become a judge, you have to prepare for the Judicial Service Examination; this is the only way to start your career journey as a judge to achieve your goal in the shortest time. You do not need any prior experience to qualify for the judicial service examination.
For the Syllabus of Judicial Service Examination, click here for information on the upcoming questions and other related details.
You only have to complete these two steps of “How to be a Judge.” After completing these two steps, you can finally become a part of the Indian judicial system as a judge.
What does a Judge do in Court? Judge Work
This is one of the most common duties of a judge in court; you probably already know some of these duties.
- During the case process and trials, a judge needs to ensure that the questions asked in the case are valid and appropriate. If not, object to the party asking the question, as you might have seen in movies, judges always order.
- As holding the top position in the court (as a judge), they are responsible for maintaining all law and order in the court.
- As a court judge, you must ensure that all issues are within the purview of the law process. The trial and hearing should be conducted properly.
- They ensure that all issues related to the case are covered during the case hearing.
- Adjudicate the case without impartiality
- Examining the authenticity of the evidence provided during the litigation process
In a court, a judge acts as an empire who is neutral on both sides (accused and victim) and ensures that both parties have equal opportunities.
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Is Becoming a Judge a Suitable Career Option
As you know that the population of India is very high. Many cases (in lakhs) are currently pending, and many cases have not been opened to date. Therefore, India needs a lot of skilled judges who have a good sense of justice so that there are no more pending cases in a country like India, and they can also resolve all those pending cases at the earliest.
In reality, becoming a judge is indeed a difficult task; a lot of hard work is required to achieve the goal of becoming a judge. And seats/posts in judicial service examination are also limited.
Thus, if you want to become a judge, then be prepared to compete in the Judicial Service Examination. Even though it is a bit difficult to be a judge, but the result is fantastic. A judge is a very respectable person in society.
Since judicial services are an essential part of the Government of India; This means that you will get a lot of facilities along with a good salary, which is very difficult to get.
In the future, you may also be promoted as a Judge of the High Court and a Judge of the Supreme Court.
A judge is a symbol of justice.
Salary of Judges at the District Level
At the district level in India, the fixed income of judges has been kept from Rs.25,000 per month to Rs.65,000 per month + plus many facilities.
In every state, your monthly salary may be different from other states.
As you know, the court comes under India’s Government, so your salary is also decided by India’s Government, which can increase after every new central pay commission.
