Frequently Asked Questions

NIJAC is required by statute to select and appoint and recommend for appointment for courts and various tribunals.

Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 Schedule 1 (Section 2) - Listed Judicial Offices. (PDF 26 KB)

We prepare and agree a scheme outreach plan to ensure we attract the widest possible applicant pool and a Selection Committee is established to agree shortlisting criteria, assessment methods and interview questions.

NIJAC openly advertises recruitment schemes for judicial office. Each scheme follows the assessment and selection process set out below

• Advertisement
• Closing Dates
  • Applications
  • Consultee Comments
• Shortlisting Assessment
• Assessment & Selection Centre
• Pre Appointment Checks
• Appointment / Recommendation for Appointment

For each judicial office there are eligibility requirements. We will publish these, for example for legal offices a minimum number of years standing required.

If you meet the requirements, you are eligible to apply.

Unfortunately some people consider that they must ‘exceed’ the eligibility criteria. This is definitely not the case and we welcome all who fulfil the publicised eligibility requirements.

Subject to the current statutory retirement age of 70 there is no age limit for appointment.

However the Lord Chancellor expects a reasonable period of service before retirement.

Our assessment & selection methods focus on what is required for the particular office under recruitment.

We require a completed application form for the majority of schemes.

In high volume recruitment schemes there may be a shorter application form used to verify an applicant's eligibility. Once satisified you will be invited to participate in a shortlisting test.

NIJAC will provide guidance for each scheme. Applicants are recommended to fully read these documents before completion and submission of their application forms.

Refer to steps 1-4

A competency is simply an ability, skill, knowledge or attribute that is needed for the successful performance in a job – often defined in terms of behaviours e.g. communication skills.

For judicial office these are:

• Knowledge
• analysis and making decisions;
• leadership and management;
• communication; and
• understanding people and society.

The above competencies form the Judicial Selection Framework which is used for all recruitment schemes.

Section 63 of the Constitutional Reform Act requires NIJAC to recommend for appointment and select for appointment only those individuals NIJAC is satisfied are of good character.

As a result, prior to any appointment or recommendation for appointment individuals are subject to a number of pre-appointment checks which include:

• an examination of the Character Section of your application form and the information received from any other sources;
• an Enhanced Level Criminal Record Check through Access NI to establish if you have ever been subject to any criminal conviction;
• if appropriate, checks with the professional bodies (e.g. The Law Society, The Bar Council, General Medical Council) regarding allegations or findings of misconduct;
• the Enforcement of Judgments Office and HMRC;
• a medical assessment carried out by the Occupational Health Service;
• an examination of any declared interests; and a
• Conflicts of Interest interview for successful applicants.

NIJAC conducts an examination of conflicts of interest as part of the pre-appointment checks.

Any information obtained is treated in the strictest confidence and may not debar you from appointment unless NIJAC considers that it renders you unsuitable for appointment.

NIJAC is also responsible for the renewal (or recommending the renewal of appointment to the Lord Chancellor) of those appointed to deputy and fee paid judicial offices.

NIJAC and the Lord Chancellor have a policy in respect of renewal. This gives fee paid and deputy office holders’ security of tenure through automatic renewal. However this is subject to the individual's agreement, their satisfying the conditions for appointment and there being no grounds for non renewal.

The grounds for non renewal are limited to:

• misbehaviour;
• incapacity;
• persistent failure to comply with existing requirements;
• failure to comply with training requirements;
• sustained failure to observe the standards reasonably expected from a holder of such office;
• a reduction in numbers because of changes in operational requirements; or part of a structural change to enable recruitment of new part-time judicial office holders.

Yes.

For each recruitment scheme there is a dedicated member of staff to support potential applicants and deal with any queries. Their contact details will be published in the documentation for each scheme.

If you have a general enquiry you can contact any member of our staff who will endeavour to assist. All enquiries are dealt with in the strictest confidence.