The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) (external link) will be launching a selection exercise in October to identify 130 candidates (this is anticipated to be 80 immediate and 50 future appointments) for the post of Deputy District Judge.
The seminar
The Judicial Office is organising a pre-application seminar (external link) that will take place online via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 6 October 2026 (5pm to 6.15pm).
The seminar aims to help applicants be better prepared to make an application and to receive up-to-date guidance and advice on the JAC’s selection process. As well as the JAC, you will also hear from leadership judges and serving Deputy District Judges.
Who should attend?
The exercise will be open to barristers, solicitors, and Fellows of CILEX. Please note, in order to meet the statutory qualifications for appointment, a solicitor (or a salaried judicial office holder who was formerly a solicitor) must appear on the Roll.
Applications are particularly welcome from under-represented groups (women, ethnic minority candidates, disabled candidates, or those with a solicitor background).
What does a Deputy District Judge do?
Deputy District Judges hear a variety of civil and family cases, ranging from trials lasting a number of days to shorter interlocutory and case management applications. The bulk of a Deputy District Judge’s work, however, involves hearing lists composed of several short hearings each day. Deputy District Judges must be able to deal effectively with face-to-face and remote hearings, and applications made electronically or on paper. Vacancies will be across England and Wales.
For information on the District Judge role and the Deputy District Judge role, visit the judicial website.
Further information
Check out the JAC’s future vacancies page (external link)
For any queries regarding the recruitment campaign/selection exercise please contact the JAC selection exercise team DDJ356@judicialappointments.gov.uk
For any queries regarding the pre-application seminar please email JudicialHROutreachEvents@judiciary.uk
To register, visit the Judicial Careers website (external link).
The post Deputy District Judge pre-application seminar 2026 appeared first on Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.