Policy and Research Officer

Magistrates' Association

Hours
35 hours per week

Salary
£37,899 - £37,900 per year

About the Organisation

Magistrates’ Association is the membership organisation for magistrates in England and Wales. Magistrates are the backbone of our justice system, and we’re the only independent organisation that supports, champions, and advocates for them. One of the ways we do this is by sharing our members’ stories and achievements, as well as their concerns and issues, with key decision makers, the media, and the wider public.

About the role

We’re looking for a Policy and Research Officer to join the Magistrates’ Association and turn evidence into influence. The MA is the only independent membership body for magistrates in England and Wales. With around 12,000 members, we speak truth to power, support our members, and advocate for a fairer and more effective justice system. This is a varied, fast-paced role where no two days are the same. One day you might be writing a briefing for a parliamentary inquiry or drafting a consultation response; the next, you could be analysing survey data, supporting one of our national policy committees, or working with colleagues to launch a new advocacy report in the media.

You’ll be joining a small, supportive team where your ideas can have a real impact. Recent projects have tackled judicial diversity, recognition for magistrates, reform of the Single Justice Procedure, and access to justice for disabled magistrates. Your work will help shape the future of the magistracy and, through it, the wider justice system. We’re looking for someone with strong research and analytical skills, excellent writing and communication, and the ability to grasp complex issues quickly. If you’re passionate about justice and want to see your work influence real-world change, this role is for you.

Responsibilities

Policy Committees:

• Support the MA’s policy committees, especially those covering adult courts, and diversity and inclusion
• Propose priorities and manage programmes of work for the committees
• Provide high-quality information to ensure that committee members and other interested parties are up to date with relevant information
• Ensure agreed actions and decisions of the policy committees are implemented
• Build and maintain excellent relationships with committee members
• Provide support to committee members to enable them to effectively contribute to the work of the MA
• Assist in the training and development of committee members
• Agree and implement the committee working practices

Policy:

• Monitor and analyse relevant information, including parliamentary activity and new developments in the law and the courts
• Develop and propose new policies
• Draft consultation responses, proposing lines to take
• Develop and implement strategies to influence parliamentarians and other justice system stakeholders
• Develop links with other stakeholders in the judicial system
• Represent the MA publicly in a range of forums, including at meetings and conferences
• Draft reports and present findings
• Draft briefings and information for committee members, parliamentarians, and MA members

Research:

• Support the development of a research programme
• Propose research projects to provide a solid evidence base for MA policies
• Develop detailed research proposals, including analysis of timescales and budget implications
• Research funding opportunities and draft grant applications
• Project manage and undertake agreed research projects and report on findings both internally and externally

Communications:

• Work closely with the communications team to support the delivery of the
• MA’s communications activities – both for members and externally
• Ensure the accuracy of policy information contained in MA communications outputs
• Contribute to our Magistrate magazine, newsletters, website content, social media, and press releases
• Draft articles for the specialist, local, and national media
• Liaise with the media to provide background information and inform the  MA media work

Membership:

• Support the work of the MA’s membership team to recruit and retain members
• Assist in responding to members’ queries and provide up-to-date information for members on policy issues 

Budgetary Accountability:

• Prepare budgets for the MA’s parliamentary, policy, and research activities
• Ensure the proper management of budgets
• Hold operational budgets related to key activities

Other Duties:

• Work with the Training, Learning, and Development Officer to produce materials to assist magistrates in their work
• Contribute to team meetings, organisational strategy, and priorities
• Be proactive in keeping up to date with developments affecting the role
• Contribute to other organisational tasks, such as administration, as required

Skills, Competencies & Experience

Essential:

• Knowledge of the criminal and/or family justice system
• Experience in producing consultation responses or other policy documents, and in conducting policy-relevant research
• Demonstrable ability to assimilate and understand complex information quickly and explain complex issues clearly
• Proven ability to produce clear, concise reports, consultation responses, discussion papers, briefings, and letters
• The ability to establish personal credibility with a range of stakeholders
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively, diplomatically, and persuasively with a wide range of people
• The ability to work effectively under pressure and to tight deadlines
• A creative and pragmatic approach to problem-solving and the ability to provide sound reasons to support proposed solutions
• Ability to organise and prioritise your own workload and strong attention to detail
• Excellent networking skills

Desirable:

• A proven track record of working with in lobbying Parliament or other justice organisations
• Qualitative and quantitative research skills
• Project management experience
• Experience in drafting legislation or legislative amendments
• Knowledge of the workings of magistrates’ courts
• Experience of working in a membership organisation

Required Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience

Compensation & Benefits

• 25 days' annual leave, plus statutory holidays.
• Three-month probationary period
• 3 days of volunteering leave per year.
• Pension completion of a three-month probationary period
• Pension contribution equivalent to 10% salary
• Employee contribution 5 %

Conditions of employment

• You must have the right to work in the UK

Working locations

• Hybrid model, working in the London office and remotely
• The role involves occasional travel and overnight stays

How to apply

• Please forward the following to [email protected] by 9 am on Monday, 13th October 2025.
  • Your CV (max. three sides of A4)
  • A supporting statement (max. three sides of A4) that sets out why you think this role is the right move for you and how you meet the criteria in the person specification
• If you have questions about the role or the recruitment process, please contact the MA’s Chief Executive, Tom Franklin, at [email protected] to discuss the position informally.

Interviews

• Please note we may shortlist before the role closes, so do not wait to apply.
• If you are not available on the interview dates, please let us know when you submit your application.
• Shortlisted candidates contacted by 16th October
• First interviews w/c 20th October
• Second interviews TBC

Policies

Magistrates’ Association is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. Because we are focusing on becoming an organisation that more closely reflects the society we live in, we especially welcome applications from underrepresented groups

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