The Clerk to the Magistrates’

The lay decision makers in the Magistrates’ Court do not usually have formal legal qualifications. The clerk is a qualified lawyer who advises on the law. He or she sit in front of the bench and could be mistaken for fulfilling an administrative rule; do not be fooled. I recently watched a Magistrates’ Clerk in Guildford Magistrates’ Court take control of the proceedings and engineered a certain outcome (all quite properly, I should add). Never underestimate the court staff, even the usher. The first thing taught to every junior criminal barrister is, treat the court staff with courtesy and respect; especially the usher if you wish to get out of court before lunch!