Judges preside over civil and criminal proceedings in courts of law, ensuring
trials are run fairly and according to the rules of law and evidence.
Judges may be required to work long hours depending on the requirements of the
cases over which they are presiding.
How much can I expect to earn?
Full-time employed Judge earn an average of $2686 per week. The [average
annual salary for this job is $139672 excluding super.]
Personal requirements
mature and responsible
honest, firm and fair
be of good standing within the community
able to deal with public scrutiny
good knowledge of Commonwealth and state law, legal history and court processes
good oral and written communication skills
able to understand, analyse and use facts quickly and logically
able to work under pressure and deal with a variety of people
Australian citizenship.
This job also involves:
Mainly indoor work
Workers performing these jobs would usually be expected to spend more than
three-quarters of their day indoors, in an office, factory or other enclosed
area protected from the weather.
Reading or writing
These jobs require moderate or better reading and writing skills. Workers may
be expected to prepare, understand or act on written materials, such as
letters or reports. People may wish to avoid these jobs if their reading or
writing English skills are limited to a small range of words or phrases and
symbols. Jobs remaining may still require very basic reading or writing
skills.
Sitting for long periods
The main duties and tasks involved in these jobs are usually performed sitting
down at a desk, counter, workbench or other location for periods of at least
two hours at a stretch.
This occupation offers jobs at the following skill levels:
Professional Jobs
Jobs in this group usually require completion of a recognised Bachelor Degree,
or extensive relevant experience. Some jobs also require post-graduate study,
such as a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master Degree.
Study requirements
At school, you can study these subject(s) to get a good foundation for this
occupation:
English
School subjects that include some aspect of English provide a useful
background to these jobs. In some cases an English-related subject is a pre-
requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
History
School subjects that include some aspect of HISTORY provide a useful
background to these jobs. In some cases a history-related subject is a pre-
requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Mathematics
School subjects that include some aspect of MATHEMATICS provide a useful
background to these jobs. In some cases a mathematics-related subject is a
pre-requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Duties and tasks of a Judge
Judges may perform the following tasks:
conduct trials and hearings
hear and consider legal arguments, evidence and submissions
decide appeals and determine questions of law according to established procedures
instruct juries on matters of law
ensurethat no improper evidence is given to the jury
enforce court processes and rules during a hearing in order to ensure a fair trial
conduct tribunals, royal commissions and other official inquiries
determine constitutional issues and questions
pass judgements and sentences, award damages and issue court orders
write judgements after the case, including detailed descriptions of their reasons
read and research previous cases, other judges’ decisions and legislation in order to stay up to date with changes and legal precedents.
Specialisations
Master
A master exercises judicial powers as a deputy of the judges. With limited
exceptions, masters perform all of the work of a judge. Masters often are
responsible for a particular judicial office and hear most matters in this
area such as compensation cases or pre-trial hearings.