Within the field of the legal profession, one of the most widely respected, well paid and important jobs, is that of a judge. Becoming a judge is not easy and one must work for many years through education and then within the legal profession in order to attain the role of this high office. Whether you want to become a Grand Jury judge or work within an important district, there are certain skills which men and women who operate as judges possess, and you will need to as well. I spoke with good friend and legal expert Adam M Smith to find out exactly what those skills are.
Legal Skills
Of course it is vital to this profession that you have legal skills but the skills which we are referring to here are those which can be found during a career as an attorney. There is no real requirement that a judge must practice as an attorney prior to becoming a judge, but if you haven’t already done so then you could lose out to someone who has. The skills you will learn here which will help in your judgeship are things like how the courtroom operates, as well as protocols and standards.
Relationship Building Skills
There is no application process for a judge and instead they must rely on being elected or appointed. In order to put yourself in the best position, you must be able to build and maintain respected relationships throughout both the legal and political community. This relationship building skill will be crucial to your success in this profession.
Impartiality
Impartiality is a difficult skill which may take many years for you to possess, the key to it is being self-aware enough that you can recognize and ignore your own prejudices. In many cases the decision will be made by a jury but even in those cases, your prejudices could still play a role in swaying public opinion. Whilst it may be a tough skill to learn, impartiality is absolutely vital in the role of a judge and if you cannot be impartial, you won’t be able to continue down this career path.
Honesty
When you are appointed to be a judge, the spotlight will be on you more than ever before, and you must live a life which sets an example of being law abiding, trustworthy and honest. If you are found to be in any way unscrupulous or immoral, you simply cannot hold this kind of position, as you will be a hypocrite. There is a heavy expectation on you to be honest, law abiding and most importantly, moral in your actions and your endeavors away from the courtroom.
These are the core skills which anyone who wishes to be a judge one day will need to possess, some will come with time, others must be in-built in your character.
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