Judge
What the work is
Presides over civil and criminal proceedings in a court of law.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Reviews legal documents and evidence presented in court
- Listens to arguments from both prosecution and defence
- Interprets and applies laws and regulations to make decisions
- Presides over criminal cases in which the guilt of defendants is determined, and delivers judgments and opinions
- Resolves disputes and issues rulings in civil cases
- Sentences convicted individuals and decides appropriate penalties
- Provides guidance to juries and instructs them on legal matters
- Ensures that court proceedings are conducted in a fair and impartial manner
- Maintains order and decorum in the courtroom
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a regional magistrates court and a family dispute resolution service in a fictional state. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- Two parents who arrived angry leave with a plan for the school holidays
- A self-represented person says they felt heard, even though the decision went against them
- A busy list finishes on time and every matter was treated with care
Hard days
- A full list, a short day and people who are upset, confused or frightened
- A decision that will disappoint someone, however carefully you reach it
- Hearing the same sad stories again and again and having to stay fair
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 281233, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.