Consider the career of a magistrate

Magistrates are employed by the Department of Justice.

The Addie explored the career of being a magistrate in a South African court of law.

The website of the Department of Justice www.justice.gov.za describes the work of a magistrate as someone who “adjudicates criminal and civil cases in court”.

It further says the magistrate has the power to acquit, convict and sentence the accused person if found guilty of committing an offence or in a civil court, pass judgments in civil matters.

Roy le Roux, one of the regional magistrates at Springs Magistrate’s Court, says he gets job satisfaction knowing that justice has prevailed and that disputes have been resolved.

He says the worst part of the job as magistrate is being exposed to people who suffered as a result of serious crimes.

To qualify as a magistrate a student needs to obtain an LLB degree.

Le Roux says schoolchildren considering the career as a magistrate do not have to complete specific subjects for matric, but have to pass with an university exemption to be able to study for the degree at a university.

Le Roux says the career path of a prospective magistrate, after obtaining the LLB degree, is to first work at the Department of Justice as clerk of the court and then as a state prosecutor before becoming a magistrate.

He says people considering this career need to be unbiased and impartial, have a lot of patience, be open-minded and must be fair.

A magistrate also has to be able to take decisions without fear and must have a good working knowledge of the law.

The website www.gostudy.mobi adds some characteristics:

•  have a good knowledge and understanding of human behaviour.
• Be able to judge people correctly and fairly.
•  Be agreeable and tolerant.
• Have a good general knowledge and good problem-solving skills.
• Be able to stay calm and objective.
• Be intelligent and able to reason logically.
• Be fluent in more than one official language.
• Be tactful.
• Exhibit exemplary behaviour at all times.
•  Inspire confidence for a fair trial.
•  Be intelligent and have integrity.