Magistrates' Association

Who we are

We are an independent charity, established by Royal Charter, and the only membership body for magistrates in England and Wales. For more than 100 years we have been helping the magistracy to be its best for all of society.

Our vision is a fair and effective justice system, served by a robust and vibrant magistracy.

We are run by and for our 12,000 sitting and retired members. We have 54 local branches and five national policy committees. We assist our members to be the best magistrates they can be by:

·Developing our members—we provide tools to develop magistrates’ skills and competencies. 

·Influencing for our members—we are the only collective and independent voice of the magistracy. We advocate on behalf of our members by publishing advocacy reports, giving evidence to Parliamentary inquiries, and explaining the work of magistrates in the media. We also inform the public about the vital role of the magistracy, through our Magistrates in the Community programme.

·Informing our members—we are the key source of news, updates and opinions on issues relevant to the magistracy. 

·Supporting our members—we provide peer support for times being a magistrate feels tough. 

·Connecting our members—we provide opportunities for members to meet, collaborate and network. 

Find out more: https://bit.ly/AbouttheMA