Magistrate
What the work is
Hears criminal matters to determine whether defendants will be committed for trial, and adjudicates minor criminal offences and civil matters without a jury.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Conducts hearings to determine whether defendants should be committed for trial
- Presides over minor civil and criminal proceedings without a jury
- Reviews evidence presented by prosecution and defence
- Examines witnesses and defendants
- Makes decisions on guilt based on evidence and legal principles
- Sentences defendants convicted of minor criminal offences
- Awards damages in civil matters
- Ensures that defendants' rights are protected during the legal process
- Maintains order and decorum in the courtroom
- Prepares written judgments and decisions
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 281235, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.