'Non-traditional backgrounds' targeted for High Court recruitment
The judiciary is aiming to tempt a diverse pool of women and BAME lawyers and academics into becoming High Court judges
A new pilot initiative has been launched which aims to attract high quality lawyers and legal academics from non-traditional backgrounds to sit in the High Court.
This July, the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) will be running a selection exercise to appoint up to 14 people from more diverse backgrounds as deputy high court judges using the provisions of section 9(4) of the Senior Courts Act 1981.
The programme is separate from the independent JAC selection exercise and includes a specially designed programme of mentoring to help women and black, Asian and minority ethic (BAME) candidates.
As the pilot is aimed at increasing diversity in the High Court, places are limited to women, those with BAME backgrounds, and those coming from less advantaged social or educational backgrounds. In addition, candidates should have no previous judicial experience.
Launching the pilot, Lady Justice Heather Hallett said: 'The appointments system is now far more open than it was and the judiciary is becoming more diverse year on year - demonstrated by the fact that there are now more women than ever in the High Court and in the Court of Appeal. But, progress is slow and the route to the senior judiciary remains a long one.
'We fear that we may be missing out on a pool of talent for whom the traditional route is not an option - top flight solicitors and barristers, general counsel, academics and many more. These are people who would bring a whole range of skills and abilities on top of their first class legal knowledge and experience. They are also likely to be men and women from a broad spectrum of social and ethnic backgrounds with the potential for the High Court and beyond.'
She continued: 'The judiciary of England and Wales is the envy of the world for its skill, fairness and integrity. Sitting as a High Court judge is one of the toughest legal jobs there is; but it is also one of the most satisfying and intellectually rewarding.'
The pilot programme will consist of work-shadowing and mentoring for a small number of candidates. While the JAC stress that just taking part in the programme is no guarantee of success in the selection exercise it will provide candidates with support to assist them in their applications.
The deadline for submissions of applications is 21 April 2015.
View the full video by Lady Justice Hallett here.