Lay and Legal Members for Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland

Scottish Ministers are looking to make appointments of up to 5 Lay and 2 Legal Members to Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.

The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland (JABS) is an independent advisory body which plays a key role in ensuring an open and transparent selection process, based on merit, for a range of judicial appointments.

The Board’s aims are to:

• attract applicants of the highest calibre, recognising the need to encourage diversity in the range of those available for selection
• recommend applicants for appointment to judicial office on merit through processes that are fair, transparent and command respect

Ministers particularly welcome applications from people with protected characteristics who are currently under-represented on the boards of Public Bodies, including disabled people, LGBTI+ people, those from black and minority ethnic communities, and people aged under 50 years old.

Lay Members

JABS legislation requires that a lay member:

• is resident in Scotland
• is not a solicitor or advocate practising as such in Scotland
• does not hold and has not held any judicial office within the Board’s remit

The role of a lay member is to participate in decision-making on the suitability of individual applicants for judicial appointment, and contribute to the development of the Board’s policies, strategy and governance. They will receive training on the Board’s processes and its approach to appointment exercises.

Legal Members

Of the 2 legal members, one must be an Advocate, and the other may be either a Solicitor (including Solicitor Advocate) or an Advocate, practising as such in Scotland.

As with lay members, the role of the legal member is to participate in decision-making on the suitability of individual applicants for judicial appointment, and contribute to the development of the Board’s policies, strategy and governance. Legal members will also be responsible for assessing applicants’ knowledge of the law, skills, and competence in the interpretation and application of the law. They will also receive training on the Board’s processes and its approach to appointment exercises.

Remuneration and Expenses

Members of the Board receive £296 remuneration per day of activities and duties for the Board.  Expenses incurred as a result of carrying out the duties of the appointment (including reasonable travel and subsistence costs, and dependant carer and childcare expenses) will be reimbursed.  The appointment is non-pensionable.

Time Commitment

Members will be expected to devote up to 40 days per year to Board duties, but this may vary year on year. The number and nature of recruitment exercises varies and are demand-led. Board Members are expected to attend around 7 Board meetings each year.

The term of appointment will be for up to 4 years (with a possibility of reappointment).  Any appointments and subsequent reappointments will not extend beyond a maximum of 8 years.

Deadlines and How to Apply

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 22^nd February.

To apply, or for further information, please visit the Public Appointments for Scotland page.