How to become a judge in Australia

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A judge is one of the most respected and influential roles in the Australian legal system. People who work to become judges are motivated by the opportunity to uphold justice, interpret the law and help ensure fairness in our society. 

The appointment of a judge is recognition of that person’s many years of legal experience, deep ethical understanding and strong decision-making. 

This guide will help you understand the realities of judicial work and show you many ways to start building your legal career.

What does a judge do?

The public side of what a judge does is only a small part of their role in the judicial system. Most of us are aware of the work involved in conducting trials and hearings, evaluating arguments and evidence in civil and criminal cases, and guiding courtroom proceedings. However, this visible work is backed by extensive work out of the public eye.

Behind the scenes, they also research statutes and previous court decisions relevant to cases, interpret legislation, decide penalties and sentences and write judgements. They also advise the government on legal, constitutional and parliamentary matters, draft bills and attend committee meetings during the consideration of bills.

To engage in legal reasoning and fulfil their ethical responsibilities, judges must use a range of human-centred skills. These include listening carefully to evidence, managing sensitive issues and ensuring fair treatment for everyone who appears in court. 

Judge vs magistrate: What’s the difference?

The difference between a judge and a magistrate is usually based on how much authority that person has in the legal system. 

Magistrates are generally in the local court and can hear many smaller cases each day, including criminal, civil and family matters. They have the authority to make legal determinations and impose penalties.

Judges tend to work in higher courts, such as District or Supreme Courts and hear more complex matters that often include a jury. Their cases can run for days, if not weeks. They also have the authority to hear appeals and have stronger sentencing powers than magistrates. 

Note that in NSW and the NT, the term ‘magistrate’ is no longer used and local courts are presided over by a judge.

The skills needed to be a judge

The qualities of a good judge span both technical proficiencies gained through many years of legal experience, as well as extremely strong personal qualities. These include:

Soft skills

  • a genuine commitment to serving the community
  • empathy and emotional maturity 
  • patience and active listening
  • integrity, impartiality, tact and courtesy
  • resilience and calmness under pressure
  • confidence working with diverse groups of people
  • strong ethical awareness
  • the ability to manage complex or sensitive situations
  • the capacity to inspire respect and confidence

Judicial skills

  • outstanding legal expertise
  • advanced decision-making skills
  • interpreting legislation and case law
  • evaluating evidence
  • writing clear and detailed judgments in a timely manner
  • understanding courtroom procedures
  • managing jury processes
  • leading courtroom discussions
  • applying legal principles consistently
  • the capacity to work across several areas of the court’s jurisdiction, or where the appointment is to a specialist jurisdiction, demonstrated
    specialist knowledge and skill in that jurisdiction.

How do you become a judge?

Becoming a judge requires legal qualifications and significant experience. At a minimum, candidates must qualify as a lawyer and practise for many years. Many judges have backgrounds in litigation, criminal law, commercial law, public law or advocacy. 

Appointment processes vary by state and court level, but always require proven expertise, integrity and a strong professional reputation.

The first step for anyone wanting to become a judge is to obtain either an undergraduate or postgraduate law degree.

    • Complete an accredited law degree at UNSW through the Bachelor of Laws or a combined law program.Undertake practical legal training and gain admission as a solicitor.
    • Build several years of legal experience in areas like litigation, criminal law, family law, commercial law or human rights.
    • Develop a strong professional reputation, leadership skills and ethical judgment.
    • Become eligible for judicial appointment through state or federal selection processes. 
    • Complete an undergraduate degree in another field.
    • Apply for entry into a graduate law degree, such as the UNSW Juris Doctor.
    • Finish legal training and gain admission as a solicitor or barrister.
    • Build substantial legal experience and credibility in your chosen practice area.

    • Apply or be nominated for a judicial appointment once you meet the required professional standard. 

Mapping your career path as a judge

There are many judicial roles available once you have gained your legal qualifications.

Local and state courts

  • Once you have at least eight years’ experience representing people in court, possibly starting as a judge’s associate, you can start to apply for magistrate positions in district and local courts.
  • Working your way up the system, you can then look at Supreme Court judges, who sit in each state or territory’s highest trial court. The head of jurisdiction is the most senior judicial officer of each court: the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court, the Chief Judge of the District Court and the Chief Magistrate.

Federal courts

  • If you are interested in the legal system at a national level, you can apply to become an associate. You can work in either the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Division 1, which deals exclusively with family law matters, or in Division 2. Division 2 is an intermediate court that handles family law, migration, employment law, bankruptcy and other broad areas of federal law. These roles assist the judge with the day-to-day running of the courtroom and chambers. After at least five years in this work, you can begin to apply for judicial roles. 
  • To be appointed as a Judge of the Federal Court, you must have been either a judge of a prescribed court or of a court of a State; or been enrolled as a legal practitioner of the High Court or of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory for at least five years.
  • High Court Justices are the most senior judicial officers in Australia. They hear cases involving constitutional questions and serve as the final court of appeal. The court includes a Chief Justice and several Justices, most of whom have had long and distinguished legal careers.

Once you become a judge

Following a career as a judge, you will be well-placed to move into a variety of roles, such as:

  • becoming a chief justice
  • heading a tribunal
  • teaching law at a university
  • advising the corporate sector on legal issues 
  • working as a mediator in civil disputes. 

A strong understanding of how laws are made is also a good background for anyone considering politics. 
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Common questions about becoming a judge in Australia

  • While officially you are not eligible to become a judge unless you have been licensed to practice law for a minimum of eight years, most judges have at least a decade of legal experience before being considered.

    Most people who go on to become judges are practising barristers, but solicitors and law academics have also been appointed. The nominations are supported either by the Attorney General for the state or the Governor General for the national level. Therefore, you will need to develop a strong reputation for applying ethics and legal reasoning, as well as for a commitment to consistent learning.

  • International students can study law in Australia, but judicial appointments are typically restricted to Australian citizens with substantial local legal experience. 

    As with anyone who aspires to be a judge, your initial focus should be on gaining legal qualifications, understanding Australian law and exploring career opportunities within the legal profession. Judicial roles require years of experience before you are able to apply. 

  • A judge’s salary varies by court level, jurisdiction and seniority. Salaries are set by independent state or federal tribunals. 

    Magistrates earn between $100,000 and $200,000 depending on their location and seniority.

    Once you move into higher positions, such as a judge in a supreme court or tribunal, salaries jump to around $500,000.

    Senior judges, such as the Chief Justice of the High Court, can earn more than $600,000. 

  • If you want to treat people with dignity and fairness while explaining and applying legal rules understandably and respectfully, becoming a judge might be a career goal. Ideally, you can stay calm under pressure and be comfortable making decisions that could have a major effect on others. It is a serious responsibility and you will regularly be intellectually and ethically challenged, but you will also have a profound impact on justice and community wellbeing.

How UNSW prepares you for your future as a judge

UNSW Law & Justice is ranked #1 in Sydney and #12 globally for law and legal studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025).

For more than 50 years, UNSW Law & Justice has led the way with a teaching approach that swaps large lecture halls for seminar-style classes of around 40 students. Active participation, debate and critical thinking are central to classes. This distinctive learning environment fosters deeper engagement. It prepares you to apply your knowledge in real-world contexts. There are opportunities to work directly with clients and lawyers at our community legal centre. 

For undergraduate students, the Bachelor of Laws gives you the chance to develop legal expertise alongside skills in another field. This double-degree approach opens a wider range of career opportunities and perspectives, all while studying at a leading Go8 university.

If you already have a degree in another field, or a law degree from another country, a Juris Doctor postgraduate qualification will give you the grounding you need to become a lawyer in Australia. You’ll just need to complete your Practical Legal Training (also available through UNSW) before applying for admission as a lawyer. 

You may also be interested in the UNSW Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, which is ranked #1 in Australia for Criminology and Criminal Justice program (EduRank, 2024). It is a three-year full-time or six-year part-time equivalent undergraduate criminology degree designed to critically explore the causes of crime, deviance, criminal behaviour, social control, and the legal system.

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