Qualities and abilities

The JAC has identified the following qualities and abilities that are required for judicial office.

There are now two sets of qualities and abilities - a leadership and management set for more senior roles and a generic set for others.

QUALITIES AND ABILITIES - GENERIC

1. Intellectual capacity

  • High level of expertise in your chosen area or profession
  • Ability quickly to absorb and analyse information
  • Appropriate knowledge of the law and its underlying principles, or the ability to acquire this knowledge where necessary

2. Personal qualities

  • Integrity and independence of mind
  • Sound judgement
  • Decisiveness
  • Objectivity
  • Ability and willingness to learn and develop professionally

3. An ability to understand and deal fairly

  • Ability to treat everyone with respect and sensitivity whatever their background
  • Willingness to listen with patience and courtesy

4. Authority and communication skills

  • Ability to explain the procedure and any decisions reached clearly and succinctly to all those involved
  • Ability to inspire respect and confidence
  • Ability to maintain authority when challenged

5. Efficiency

  • Ability to work at speed and under pressure
  • Ability to organise time effectively and produce clear reasoned judgments expeditiously
  • Ability to work constructively with others (including leadership and managerial skills where appropriate)

The precise qualities and abilities for each post will be published in the information pack for each exercise.

QUALITIES AND ABILITIES - LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

1. Intellectual Capacity

  • High level of expertise in your chosen area or profession
  • Ability quickly to absorb and analyse information
  • Appropriate knowledge of the law and its underlying principles, or the ability to acquire this knowledge where necessary.


2. Personal Qualities

  • Integrity and independence of mind
  • Sound judgement
  • Decisiveness
  • Objectivity
  • Ability and willingness to learn and develop professionally
  • Ability to work constructively with others.


3. An ability to understand and deal fairly

  • Ability to treat everyone with respect and sensitivity whatever their background
  • Willingness to listen with patience and courtesy.


4. Authority and Communication Skills

  • Ability to explain the procedure and any decisions reached clearly and succinctly to all those involved
  • Ability to inspire respect and confidence
  • Ability to maintain authority when challenged.


5. Efficiency

  • Ability to work at speed and under pressure
  • Ability to organise time effectively and produce clear reasoned judgements expeditiously.


6. Leadership and Management Skills

  • Ability to form strategic objectives and to provide leadership to implement them effectively
  • Ability to motivate, support and encourage the professional development for whom you are responsible
  • Ability to engage constructively with judicial colleagues and the administration, and to manage change effectively
  • Ability to organise own and others time and manage available resources.

The precise qualities and abilities for each post will be published in the information pack for each exercise.