A judge is involved with applying the law of the land to court cases. He oversees the entire legal process. A magistrate enforces laws and oversees smaller cases. As a courtroom judge or magistrate, you must use your experience and sense of judgement to judge a case accurately and responsibly.
For example, you may be presiding over a case to decide the amount of water to be shared by two States (as a judge) or resolve a parking dispute between two individuals (as a magistrate).
Key Responsibilities
Preventing the violation of the law. This is the crux of a judge's duty. For example, if a certain irrigation project, such as a dam, is breaking/violating the law and causing the displacement of the native population, you will ensure that the appropriate measures are taken to re-establish the law.Reviewing existing laws. This duty or power is exclusive to High Court and Supreme Court judges. Laws are framed and passed by the government in power. You will have to review these laws within the boundaries of a relevant case, and overturn it, if necessary.Creating new laws. A law created by a judge will come under “common law” and mustn't conflict with Parliamentary laws.Deciding on Constitutional questions. As a judge, especially one of the Supreme Court, you will often find conflicting or contradictory statements or laws.Protecting fundamental rights of the citizens. For instance, you might pass a judgement in favour of the right to freedom of speech within the bounds of the Constitution.Advising lower courts. As a Supreme Court judge, you will get a barrage of requests and permissions from lower courts.Performing administrative tasks. Besides sitting in judgement, you also have the responsibility of taking care of administrative affairs.Administering districts of a state smoothly and efficiently. This role is specific to magistrates.Tending to regional cases. This includes all cases that are of petty to intermediate nature in terms of the seriousness of the crime.What Skills Will I Need To Have To Do This Job Well?
SWIFT DECISION MAKING - You will need to make crucial, spot-on decisions with high accuracy and morality.STRONG SENSE OF JUDGEMENT - You must learn from mistakes and analyse cases with the best of your intuition, knowledge, experience.PERSEVERANCE - You will encounter brutal cases and must be capable of overcoming all these challenges.TECHNICAL SKILLS - You need to be thorough with the law you are serving and must know exactly how to interpret them.What Will My Workplace Look Like?
Your work and role will vary depending on the tier of judiciary you are working in – State, Union, District, and others. As a judge, your workplace can be a municipal court, a district court, a high court, or the supreme court.
What Is My Scope For Career Growth As A Judge/Magistrate?
If you work as a judge or a magistrate, you can begin your career as an advocate or a collector, respectively. You could work your way up and get promoted to higher levels of the judiciary.
How Much Will I Get Paid?
A judge in India earns anywhere between INR 1,44,000 (at the entry-level) to INR 24,00,000 per annum (at the highest level).
Steps to Become a Judge/Magistrate
Class XI-XII/Junior College - At this level, you can take up Humanities or any other subject.Entrance Exams - You must take the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) or the All India Bar Examination (AIBE).Graduate Degree - At an undergraduate level, you can choose BA with an integrated LLB course.Post Graduate - You will be eligible to take up LLB once you have obtained your graduate degree.Internship - You can join a law firm as an intern either during college or after college.Land a Job - You must first practise as a lawyer and work your way up.Congratulations, you are now officially a judge/magistrate!
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