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Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

Overview
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Experience

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Education

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Job Training

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Examples

These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, neurologists, and veterinarians.

Arbitrate, advise, adjudicate, or administer justice in a court of law. May sentence defendant in criminal cases according to government statutes or sentencing guidelines. May determine liability of defendant in civil cases. May perform wedding ceremonies.

Salary Salary

Salary at 10th Percentile: $40K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $81K
Median Salary: $141K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $174K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $208K

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
Core Tasks

Sentence defendants in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to applicable government statutes.

Monitor proceedings to ensure that all applicable rules and procedures are followed.

Rule on custody and access disputes, and enforce court orders regarding custody and support of children.

Instruct juries on applicable laws, direct juries to deduce the facts from the evidence presented, and hear their verdicts.

Write decisions on cases.

Award compensation for damages to litigants in civil cases in relation to findings by juries or by the court.

Conduct preliminary hearings to decide issues, such as whether there is reasonable and probable cause to hold defendants in felony cases.

Preside over hearings and listen to allegations made by plaintiffs to determine whether the evidence supports the charges.

Read documents on pleadings and motions to ascertain facts and issues.

Rule on admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting testimony.

Advise attorneys, juries, litigants, and court personnel regarding conduct, issues, and proceedings.

Research legal issues and write opinions on the issues.

Grant divorces and divide assets between spouses.

Interpret and enforce rules of procedure or establish new rules in situations where there are no procedures already established by law.

Issue arrest warrants.

Participate in judicial tribunals to help resolve disputes.

Settle disputes between opposing attorneys.

Impose restrictions upon parties in civil cases until trials can be held.

Supervise other judges, court officers, and the court's administrative staff.

Provide information regarding the judicial system or other legal issues through the media and public speeches.

Perform wedding ceremonies.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Data base user interface and query software
Online databases
Document management software
Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Information retrieval or search software
Thomson Reuters WestLaw
Instant messaging software
Instant messaging software
Internet browser software
Web browser software
Legal management software
Courtroom scheduling software
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Operating system software
Microsoft operating system
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Video conferencing software
Videoconferencing software
Web page creation and editing software
LinkedIn
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Audio and visual presentation and composing equipment
Videoconferencing equipment
Communications Devices and Accessories
Multiline telephone systems
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Computer laser printers
Consumer electronics
Digital video players
Data Voice or Multimedia Network Equipment or Platforms and Accessories
Teleconferencing equipment
Office machines and their supplies and accessories
Laser facsimile machines
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Law and Government
98%
Importance

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

English Language
91%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Administration and Management
72%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Psychology
68%
Importance

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Customer and Personal Service
65%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Public Safety and Security
62%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Computers and Electronics
56%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Therapy and Counseling
54%
Importance

Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Personnel and Human Resources
52%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Communications and Media
49%
Importance

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

Top 10 Skills
Active Listening
100%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking
98%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making
85%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Reading Comprehension
85%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Complex Problem Solving
83%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Speaking
83%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Writing
83%
Importance

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning
80%
Importance

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Social Perceptiveness
80%
Importance

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Monitoring
78%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Top 10 Abilities
Deductive Reasoning
93%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Oral Comprehension
93%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Written Comprehension
88%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Inductive Reasoning
85%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Oral Expression
85%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Speech Clarity
83%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Written Expression
83%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Near Vision
80%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Problem Sensitivity
80%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Speech Recognition
80%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Top 10 Work Activities
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
99%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Getting Information
96%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
93%
Importance

Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
91%
Importance

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Processing Information
89%
Importance

Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
84%
Importance

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People
83%
Importance

Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
82%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Documenting/Recording Information
80%
Importance

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
78%
Importance

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Detailed Work Activities

Make decisions in legal cases.

Direct courtroom activities or procedures.

Prepare written decisions for legal proceedings.

Research relevant legal materials to aid decision making.

Identify implications for cases from legal precedents or other legal information.

Rule on admissibility of legal proceedings.

Conduct hearings to investigate legal issues.

Authorize payments to settle legal disputes.

Serve court ordered documents.

Arbitrate disputes between parties to resolve legal conflicts.

Supervise activities of other legal personnel.

Inform the public about policies, services or procedures.

Administer oaths to court participants.

Work Context
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

Freedom to Make Decisions

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

Structured versus Unstructured Work

To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

Frequency of Decision Making

How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results

What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?

Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Electronic Mail

How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

Work With Work Group or Team

How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

Deal With External Customers

How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?

Spend Time Sitting

How much does this job require sitting?

Education
Majors
Major
Interests
Enterprising
100%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Social
81%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Conventional
58%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Investigative
53%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Artistic
29%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Realistic
19%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Top 10 Work Styles
Integrity
100%
Importance

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Stress Tolerance
99%
Importance

Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Attention to Detail
98%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Dependability
98%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Self Control
98%
Importance

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Analytical Thinking
95%
Importance

Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Leadership
95%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Independence
94%
Importance

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Concern for Others
88%
Importance

Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Persistence
88%
Importance

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Work Values
Independence
100%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Relationships
96%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Achievement
91%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Recognition
91%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Working Conditions
91%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Support
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.