Apply to join a judge-led discussion group course
The PAJE programme provides support to all lawyers that are eligible for judicial appointments from the following under-represented groups:
- lawyers with disabilities
- lawyers from an ethnic minority background
- women lawyers
- solicitors and chartered legal executives (both with litigation and non-litigation experience) and those from non-litigation backgrounds including academics and unregistered barristers.
Applications to join a discussion group course are prioritised for applicants from the above groups.
A discussion group course consists of four workshops, covering content in Judgecraft, Judicial Ethics and Equality & Diversity. A course will take between four and eight weeks to complete, with workshops either running weekly or fortnightly. Courses are supported by one of the three legal professional bodies (The Law Society, Bar Council or CILEX). Courses are currently held remotely, but we are trialling running a number of workshops face-to-face.
Before you apply, please ensure that you have watched the 10 videos on the UK Judiciary YouTube page (external link) and that you meet the eligibility requirements for a legally qualified candidate for judicial appointments – this includes having at least five years post-qualification experience (PQE) in ‘law related activities’, and are a citizen of the UK, Commonwealth or Republic of Ireland. Full details are available on the Judicial Appointments Commission’s Eligibility for legally qualified candidates webpage (external link).
If you are not eligible for legal roles, your application will not be considered.
For more information on PAJE, please email: PAJE@judiciary.uk
How to apply
From November 2023, we will be running three virtual discussion group courses, with dates outlined below. Each discussion group course consists of four judge-led workshops, each lasting for two hours, either held on a weekly or fortnightly basis. One of the courses (Course 1) will hold their final workshop in person, with details outlined below.
You will also have to attend an IT Tech Support session prior to the course beginning.
Course 1: Monday 13 November, Monday 20 November, Monday 27 November and Monday 4 December, from 5.30–7.30pm. IT support session: Thursday 9 November, from 4-5pm.
NB: The final workshop on Monday 4 December will be held in person, at the Bar Council office: 289 – 293 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7HZ
Course 2: Tuesday 14 November, Tuesday 21 November, Tuesday 28 November and Tuesday 12 December, from 5.30–7.30pm. IT support session: Thursday 9 November, from 12.30–1.30pm.
Course 3: Wednesday 15 November, Wednesday 22 November, Wednesday 29 November and Wednesday 13 December, from 5.30–7.30pm. IT support session: Wednesday 8 November, from 5.30–6.30pm.
The application window will close at 11.59pm on 23 October. Any applications submitted after that will not be reviewed.
To apply, please fill out the application form: Pre-Application Judicial Education (PAJE) programme application form – Autumn Winter 2023 (smartsurvey.co.uk) (external link)
PAJE Judges
We have a group of judges from a range of personal and professional backgrounds who volunteer to be facilitators of the PAJE discussion group courses.
| Name | |
| District Tribunal Judge Noel Arnold | District Tribunal Judge Marianne Bennett |
| Employment Judge Mark Butler | HM Senior Coroner Kally Cheema |
| His Honour Judge Jonathan Cooper | Employment Judge James Dawson |
| Tribunal Judge Aidan Eardley | Recorder Yvette Genn |
| District Judge Claire Goodman | His Honour Judge Stephen Hellman |
| Her Honour Judge Shelley Hesford | District Tribunal Judge Michelle Jeffreys |
| Upper Tribunal Judge Therese Kamara | District Tribunal Judge Sarah Mettam |
| Regional Employment Judge Fiona Monk | His Honour Judge Avik Mukherjee |
| District Judge Mark Mullins | Deputy High Court Judge Margaret Obi |
| Upper Tribunal Judge Declan O’Callaghan | District Tribunal Judge Rhiannon Price |
| District Judge Beatrive Prevatt | Upper Tribunal Judge Swami Raghavan |
| District Judge Lesley Scott | Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge Paul Simon Shaerf |
| Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi | His Honour Judge Michael Simon |
| Employment Judge Hilary Slater | Upper Tribunal Judge Stephen Smith |
| District Judge Graham Stuart | Regional Employment Judge Carol Taylor |
| Tribunal Judge Nicholas Webb |