Acting Magistrate of the Local Court

The Attorney General is seeking applications from persons qualified for appointment as an Acting Magistrate under the Local Court Act 2007.  An Acting Magistrate will primarily sit in the Bail Division and will be called upon at short notice to hear bail applications on weekends, public holidays, during the mid-year recess, during the annual shutdown period and during judicial conferences.

Applicants must be Australian lawyers of at least five years’ standing, or current or former judicial officers. Before appointment, applicants must have retired from practice or full time judicial office. Applicants should be able to demonstrate a high degree of demonstrated proficiency in a relevant area of law, whether in practice in the Local Court, the Children’s Court or otherwise. 

As part of the application, all applicants should address the below list of personal and professional qualities for judicial appointments.  For further information, please go to Judicial Careers .

Professional qualities

1. Proficiency in the law and its underlying principles
2. High level of professional expertise and ability in the areas of professional specialisation
3. Applied experience (through the practice of law or other branches of legal practice)
4. Intellectual and analytical ability
5. Ability to discharge duties promptly
6. Capacity to work under pressure
7. Effective oral, written and interpersonal skills with peers and members of the public
8. Ability to clearly explain procedure and decisions to all parties
9. Effective management of workload
10. Ability to maintain authority and inspire respect
11. Willingness to participate in ongoing judicial education
12. Ability to use, or willingness to learn, modern information technology
13. Willingness to sit on weekends, public holidays, during the annual shutdown and during judicial conferences
14. Retired within the last three years as a Judge, Magistrate or legal practitioner in NSW

Personal qualities

1. Integrity
2. Independence and impartiality
3. Good character
4. Common sense and good judgement
5. Courtesy and patience
6. Social awareness

Note: Probity checks will be conducted.

Applications: To be submitted in Word or PDF, accompanied by detailed curriculum vitae and the names of at least two referees.  Applications must be lodged electronically.  Please go to jobs.dcj.nsw.gov.au and search Job Reference Number 77508.

Applications close: 11.59pm – Sunday, 14 September 2025 (AEST)

Enquiries: If you would like to make further enquiries, contact His Honour Judge Allen, Chief Magistrate at [email protected]

It will be necessary for previous applicants to submit a fresh application if they still seek such appointment.

Applications must be lodged electronically.  Please go to jobs.dcj.nsw.gov.au and search Job Reference Number 77508.