Judge Career Guide

What is a judge?

Judges are like the referees in a courtroom. They listen to both sides of an argument and make sure that everyone plays by the rules. If there’s a jury, the judge helps them understand how to decide the case.

They work at different levels, from local courts all the way up to the Supreme Court of the United States. Some hold their job for life, while others get elected every few years.

Duties and responsibilities

Judges run court hearings and trials. They keep order in the court, make sure trials are fair, and guide everyone involved. Sometimes, judges decide the outcome of a case by themselves, and other times they decide what happens to someone after the jury has made a decision.

Work environment

Most judges work in courtrooms. They sit through long trials, listening carefully to everything that’s said. When they’re not in court, they’re usually in their offices, researching or writing about cases.

Typical work hours

Judges usually work standard daytime hours, but sometimes they might need to make important decisions at odd hours. Even when court isn’t in session, they are busy preparing for the next cases.

How to become a judge

To become a judge, you’ll need the right mix of education, training, and experience. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Get a bachelor’s degree

Your journey starts with a bachelor’s degree from a college. Popular majors for aspiring lawyers include political science, philosophy, and criminology.

Step 2: Prepare for law school

Get ready for law school with some online courses that cover various legal topics:

Step 3: Take the LSAT

The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) measures your reading comprehension, logic, and verbal reasoning. Do well here to boost your chances of getting into a good law school.

Step 4: Earn your law degree

Complete your Juris Doctor (JD) at law school. This usually takes three years, focusing on broad legal education in the first year and specialized courses after.

Step 5: Pass the bar exam

The bar exam is your gateway to practicing law. It’s challenging and requires thorough preparation.

Work as an attorney or a judicial clerk to build experience. Most states require a decade of legal practice before you can qualify for a judgeship.

Step 7: Become a judge

Judges are typically elected or appointed. Some positions require a vote, while others might be appointed by a governor or even the President.

Step 8: Train as a judge

After getting appointed, judges undergo specific training to start their tenure on the bench and continue learning throughout their careers.

How much do judges make?

Several factors affect a judge’s salary, such as the level of the court, the location, and the years of experience. In general, federal judges earn more than state or local ones, and higher courts, like appellate or supreme courts, pay more than lower courts.

  • Federal Government: $220,210
  • State Government: $160,620
  • Local Government: $145,300

Highest paying states

  • Hawaii: $213,120
  • Illinois: $210,120
  • California: $206,790
  • Rhode Island: $195,210
  • Connecticut: $174,180

The average national salary for a Judge is:

$145,000

Browse judge salary data by market

Types of judges

Judges work in different kinds of courtrooms and each type of court deals with specific kinds of cases. Whether it’s a criminal case or a civil disagreement, judges are in charge of what happens in their courtrooms.

Federal judges

  • District courts: These are the main federal courts where most trials happen.
  • Magistrates: They take care of earlier or later parts of a trial, like hearings before the main trial starts, and handle smaller offenses.
  • Circuit courts: These courts deal with appeals, which means they review decisions made in lower courts to see if they were correct.
  • Supreme court: This is the top-level court in the U.S. It decides on the biggest and most important legal questions.
  • Special courts: These include courts like the Tax Court and Bankruptcy Court, which deal with specific types of legal issues.

State Judges

  • Municipal courts: These courts handle local city issues, like traffic violations or local laws.
  • State magistrates: They deal with smaller cases, like small claims or issuing warrants.
  • Superior courts: These are the main trial courts at the state level that handle a wide range of cases.
  • State appellate courts: Like the federal circuit courts, they review decisions from lower courts.
  • State supreme court: This is the highest court in a state and deals with the most significant state legal issues.

Justices of the Peace

In some areas, especially rural ones, Justices of the Peace can perform weddings, grant licenses, and handle minor legal matters.

Top skills for judges

Becoming a judge means mastering several key skills that help ensure fairness and justice in the courtroom.

Legal expertise

Judges need to know the law inside and out. This means understanding all the rules, being able to think through complex legal problems, and making decisions that are fair and follow the law.

Analytical thinking

Judges often handle tricky cases that can be complicated and involve many different details. It’s crucial to be able to look at all the information, break down the arguments, and make sense of what’s really important. This helps them come to logical decisions that are based on facts.

Ethical integrity

Judges must be completely trustworthy. They need to act honestly and fairly, without favoring one side over the other. This is super important to make sure everyone trusts the legal system to be fair.

Impartiality

Being impartial means judges shouldn’t let their personal feelings or opinions affect their decisions. They need to treat everyone the same and base their judgments only on the evidence and the laws.

Communication skills

Good communication is key. They need to explain their decisions clearly and manage the courtroom confidently. This includes both speaking well and writing clearly, so everyone understands why decisions are made.

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Judge career path

Becoming a judge is a big deal and requires a long commitment to learning and working within the legal system. Here’s how you can become one, one step at a time:

Gain experience

Early in your career, you’ll likely work as a lawyer, handling various legal tasks like researching laws, working in courts, and representing clients. This is your chance to get the hands-on experience you need.

Move up

As you get better and gain more experience, you might become a partner in a law firm or take on big roles like a public prosecutor or defender. These jobs come with more responsibility and often, more attention.

Specialize

Some lawyers decide to focus on specific areas of law like criminal, family, or corporate law. Specializing can help you become an expert in that area, which is important for a judge.

Intermediate roles

Before becoming a full judge, you might work as a magistrate or an administrative law judge. These positions deal with simpler cases or specific types of legal issues.

Become a judge

To become a judge, you need to be officially nominated and confirmed, which depends on where you live. You might start as a municipal judge and can move up to higher courts over time.

Aim for the top

If you do really well, you could end up in an appellate court or even the Supreme Court, where you’ll make decisions on big, important legal questions.

Similar job titles

The number of jobs for judges isn’t expected to grow much in the next few years. Most new opportunities will come up when current ones retiring or leaving their jobs. You might need to apply several times before getting a spot.

Even though more cases are being settled outside of court these days, there’s a growing need for judges in immigration courts. This could open up a few more jobs, but it really depends on whether the government decides to spend more money in this area.

Employment projections

Up to the year 2032, the number of jobs for judges is expected to grow by about 2%. This small growth is mostly due to judges retiring. Because there aren’t many positions and the position requires a lot of experience and qualifications, getting one of these jobs can be really competitive.

Judge career tips

Soft skills and traits

Spend as much time as possible in the courtroom. Arguing cases as an attorney will give you a front-row seat to what the judge does. People will be able to get to know you and your style. Develop empathy. Judges need to be able to listen to people from all different walks of life and remain patient and fair. Keep a low profile online. When becoming a judge, social media and personal life choices may be scrutinized, so keep things clean and be aware of your words and actions.

Learn how to raise money for campaigns. Many judges are selected through local elections, and you may need to raise money to run a successful campaign. Spend time working for political campaigns to learn how this works.

Commonly required skills and qualifications

Apply for a judicial clerkship. This is a one- to two-year position where you’ll assist judges with research and administrative work. Never stop learning and reading. Society is constantly changing and updating laws. It’s important to stay up to date on current events and how things might impact the court of law.

Develop a professional network

Network with key players in the legal field. Appointments happen with input from current and past judges, so people must know who you are and your background. Don’t just focus on judges, be kind and get to know court reporters, assistants, and other attorneys. Here are a couple of networks to explore:

  • American Bar Association (ABA)
  • National Association of Women Judges (NAWJ)
  • National Judicial College (NJC)
  • American Judges Association (AJA)
  • National Center for State Courts (NCSC)

Where the judge jobs are

Top states

  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • Oklahoma
  • New Jersey
  • Texas

Top job sites

  • Indeed
  • LinkedIn
  • ZipRecruiter
  • Careerbuilder
  • Monster

FAQs

How long does it take to become a judge?

Becoming a judge is a long process. First, you must earn your bachelor’s degree and complete law school, which is about seven years. Then, you’ll have to pass the bar exam and gain at least three or four years of experience as a trial lawyer. Some places require more experience. Once you’ve met the requirements, you can submit your name for consideration. You might need to do those multiple times before landing a job, but once you’ve become a judge, it’s a fantastic career and worth the time invested.

Do judges serve for life?

Each judgeship is a bit different. Federal judges are appointed and can serve as long of a term as they’d like. The only way to remove a federal judge is by impeachment, or they step down to retire. 

Are politics involved in appointing judges?

Judges are not politicians and are to remain unbiased in the court. They are often associated with politics because political leaders are responsible for appointing them to the courts. If they aren’t appointed, there is an election, making them feel a little political.

What degrees are required to become a judge?

To become a judge, you must earn your bachelor’s degree and then finish law school to earn a JD. A bachelor’s degree can be in a variety of subjects. The most common for pre-law students include philosophy, criminal justice, and political science.

Can any lawyer become a judge?

For a lawyer to become a judge, they usually need to be a licensed attorney who has passed the state’s bar exam. It’s also important to have some trial experience arguing cases to understand how the courtroom works and be comfortable presenting in front of a judge and jury.

Should I apply for a judicial clerkship?

Clerkships are a great way for aspiring judges to learn firsthand about the job and build relationships with current judges. Clerks assist with all kinds of research and tasks and provide counsel to judges. Often, judges recommend past clerks for open positions.

Do judges have to pass the bar exam?

Each state and government has its requirements for judges; not all require judges to pass the bar exam, but it is strongly encouraged. Passing the bar shows you possess the essential knowledge to preside over the courtroom.

What kind of judge is responsible for deciding a case?

In most cases, a jury decides the verdict, but there are some courts where the judge decides. Appellate courts are one example of these. The judge hears arguments from both sides and makes the call. 

Is it hard to become a judge in the United States?

There are a lot of requirements to become a judge in the United States, including years of education and experience practicing law. Many lawyers work toward becoming judges but may never reach that level. You can be considered for a judgeship with hard work, good networking, and years of experience.

What is the highest level a judge can reach?

The highest level of a judge in the United States is a seat on the United States Supreme Court. This court decides major cases that challenge the Constitution and are appointed by the President of the US.

Is there an age limit for judges?

Each state has different requirements; some require judges to be a certain age before adding their names to the ballot. Some states also set a maximum age for judges; they must retire once they reach this age. 

Reviewed and verified by Pete Newsome