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Shadowing a judge, often referred to as judge marshalling, is a beneficial form of work experience for both aspiring solicitors and barristers. While both groups can benefit, it’s aspiring barristers who usually endeavour to secure the scheme, as it gives a huge insight into their future career (ie, attending court, practising advocacy). As part of the experience, some students even get the chance to sit on the judge’s bench.

The scheme isn’t assessed, but students may still be given tasks like taking notes on the trial, reading skeleton arguments. While it’s also not a paid opportunity, judge marshalling can still be difficult to obtain. 

How I secured the experience

The first place you should go to secure a judge marshaling opportunity is your university, as they may already have schemes or connections that you’re unaware of. My university introduced me to BarNone, a scheme that helps Black and Minority Ethnic individuals in breaking barriers and entering the barrister profession.

The application form was short, and I was successful in securing a judge marshalling experience from it. If your university doesn’t have their own scheme, I’d advise you look online to see if there are any that are applicable to your circumstances. Also, don’t be afraid to ask people for opportunities, whether it’s alumni, other students in your year or even judges directly. Particularly on LinkedIn, people are often very open to offering advice and assisting you, so it doesn’t hurt to ask. 

What did the day consist of?

Schemes like BarNone aim to send you to courts nearby. So, I went to Winchester Crown Court. As it’s a Crown Court, I sat in on multiple interesting cases such as a sentencing of a terrorism offence and another related to smuggling drugs. Students sign a non-disclosure agreement at the start of the day so these cases cannot be discussed in detail, but it was fascinating to see how aggravating and mitigating factors make such a substantial impact on the outcome of cases.

We then had a lunch break, where we sat in the court cafe with the barristers of the cases. This was a highly valuable experience as we heard about their journeys into law, what their day looks like now and what they see for themselves in the future. We also shared thoughts about the cases, which was truly enjoyable. It’s particularly reassuring when a qualified barrister thinks the same as you.

Judge marshalling has significantly deepened my admiration for lawyers. They frequently adapt in court, whether it’s because of new evidence, a sudden line of questioning from the judge or having to edit their submissions. This impressive advocacy in action has given me tips on how I can improve my own skills, be spontaneous and overcome counterarguments.

How to make the most out of judge marshalling

This may be the first time that students ever visit a court so below are a few tips on how you can be at ease and make the most out of this opportunity.

Firstly, you should know that your bags will always be searched before entering the court. Therefore, you are directed to pack lightly, not carry any sharp objects in your bag (even cutlery for your lunch!) and make it easy for the guards to search your belongings. All court visitors also go through a metal detector when entering so don’t be alarmed by this.  

Secondly, it’s vital that you look and remain formal throughout the experience. So, dress smartlyt and use the formalities of court (ie, the judge should be addressed as your Honour/my Lord/my Lady unless you’re advised to address them informally). You need to stand when they both enter and leave the room. While you should be aware and have a look at court customs, don’t worry about them too much. The judges understand that you’re observing and you’ll likely pick everything up quickly by following what those around you are doing. You also can’t go on your phone or take any food or water into the court so make sure you’re all set before entering. There will be jugs of water in the courtroom and you can leave if you need to but be mindful to not disturb the trial.

Thirdly, notes are your best friend. While you may think you’ll be able to remember most of your judge marshalling experience, my notes later revealed I had forgotten many aspects so I was thankful that I wrote them down. Should you need to use this experience in future applications, it’s helpful to have accessible prompts that can show your employers what you got out of this opportunity.

I hope this blog was helpful and that you have a better understanding of what judge marshalling involves, how to obtain it and how you can make the most out of it. Best of luck!