Pre-Application Judicial Education Programme (PAJE)

The Pre-Application Judicial Education Programme (PAJE) is run in partnership by CILEX, The General Council of the Bar, The Law Society, The Ministry of Justice, and The Judicial Appointments Commission.

Interested in a judicial career?

What will participation in PAJE mean?

Participation in a course will enable lawyers to further explore the realities of being a judge as well as any perceptions they may have on barriers to a judicial career.

The discussion groups will not provide coaching on how to approach a JAC selection exercise but will explain the types of skills and experience you will need and get you to think about how those can be demonstrated to meet the JAC competency framework.

As the PAJE programme is focussed on providing additional targeted support to those that are eligible for judicial appointments from the following four underrepresented groups – all lawyers from ethnic minorities, all women lawyers, all lawyers with disabilities and/or solicitors and chartered legal executives (both with a litigation and non-litigation background) and those from a non-litigation background including academic and non-practising barristers – applications to join the discussion group sessions will be prioritised from those individuals.

PAJE Discussion group courses: Applications have now closed for the Autumn/Winter 2024 round. The Winter/Spring 2024 round will open for applications in early 2025.

The PAJE Working Group host the judge-led discussion groups which are run as part of the programme online. Each course will consist of four discussion group sessions, which will last up to two hours, on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

How to apply

The application round for candidates wishing to apply to join a virtual judge-led discussion group course for the Winter/Spring 2024 has closed. The Winter/Spring 2025 round will open for applications in early 2025.

Candidates who applied will be notified as to whether or not they have been successful in securing a place on one of the three virtual discussion group courses.

Please visit this page regularly to download an application form during the application window.

If you have any queries about PAJE, please contact [email protected]