A judicial officer is someone who presides over various disputes in a court of law. If you would like to become a judicial officer, you should first find out what the requirements are for doing so in your area. Some jurisdictions require people to become an attorney first, while others may not have this stipulation. This position could be appointed or elected, so you could need to run for public office before you can begin a career as a judge. Some education in the law or political science could be helpful no matter what your local area requires.
Before you can become a judicial officer, you may need to receive a law degree. This can require a bachelor's degree followed by three years of law school. Taking courses in legal studies or political science during your first four years of college will help you when you eventually enter law school. You may need to pass a licensing exam, so look for a school that will help you prepare to do this.
After you graduate from law school, you may want to work as a legal clerk for a local judge. In this capacity, you will perform legal research in order to help the judge make decisions on certain cases. Doing so may also allow you to preside over certain types of preliminary hearings, which can give you valuable experience that can help you become a judicial officer.
Once you have some courtroom experience, think about whether you would like to run for office. If so, you will need a campaign manager to help you develop a strategy and a financial adviser to help you solicit contributions. Talk to someone on the local election board about the position you are seeking, so you can make sure you meet all the requirements before publicly announcing your candidacy.
If running for office does not sound appealing, there are other ways to become a judicial officer. Some judicial officer careers are appointed positions, which means networking could help you land one of these jobs. This is where working as a law clerk for an established judge can come in handy, because you are likely to meet people who are in a position to appoint these justices should an opening become available.
Once you have become a judicial officer, it can be important to stay up-to-date with changes in local laws. This means you may want to take continuing education courses in order to learn about recent legislation. Doing so could also help you find a new position when your tenure is over, especially if you are elected for a particular term.
