What does a Judge do?
Judges are officials who conduct court proceedings. They sign arrest and search warrants, restraining orders, subpoenas, etc. When working on a case, the judges decide if the accused should be set free or sent to jail based on the presented evidence. They should be unbiased when listening to witnesses and examining evidence. They must show compassion and understanding to both sides and keep in mind that justice means more than just knowing the law. Additionally, their goal should only be finding the truth.
Judge responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real judge resumes:
- Prepare jury charges, manage trial docket and handle appeals of SSI disability cases.
- Manage, and update all scheduling of events, meetings, and appointments for mediation and arbitration for family law cases.
- Docket civil orders on CM/ECF.
- Observe civil and criminal trial and appeals proceedings.
- Perform extensive research and prepare legal memoranda on domestic relations and probate issues.
- Prepare orders and decisions from drafts provide by the assigned AJ.
- Perform clerical work by cross-referencing voters' names with their identification.
- Represent and counsel ACAA in debt collection procedures and other administrativeprocedures.
Judge skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Judges are proficient in Legal Issues, Civil Law, and International Law. They’re also known for soft skills such as Listening skills, Reading skills, and Writing skills.
We break down the percentage of Judges that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Legal Issues, 18%
Researched legal issues, drafted and edited affidavits statements and other correspondence in connection with courts-martial and other adverse personnel actions.
- Civil Law, 15%
Assisted with drafting opinions on civil law topics with a focus on commercial litigation.
- International Law, 14%
Served as international law advisor to the International/Operational law Division supporting sub-Saharan Africa.
- Legal Services, 12%
Supervised enlisted members of legal service support section.
- Defense Counsel, 12%
Supported Area Defense Counsel function as case paralegal for numerous criminal and administrative proceedings.
- Trial Counsel, 5%
Lead Trial Counsel for prosecution of major felony-level criminal trials including fraud, sexual assaults and drug cases.
"legal issues," "civil law," and "international law" are among the most common skills that judges use at work. You can find even more judge responsibilities below, including:
Listening skills. One of the key soft skills for a judge to have is listening skills. You can see how this relates to what judges do because "judges and hearing officers evaluate information, so they must pay close attention to what is being said." Additionally, a judge resume shows how judges use listening skills: "conducted legal research * organized files * communicated with judges and attorneys regarding cases * general law clerk duties"
Reading skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling judge duties is reading skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "judges and hearing officers must be able to distinguish important facts from large amounts of sometimes complex information and then evaluate the facts objectively." According to a judge resume, here's how judges can utilize reading skills in their job responsibilities: "united states district court for the eastern district of pennsylvania reading, pennsylvania law clerk"
Writing skills. judges are also known for writing skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to judge responsibilities, because "judges and hearing officers write recommendations and decisions on appeals and disputes." A judge resume example shows how writing skills is used in the workplace: "worked with staff attorney in research and legal writing of memorandums, coordinating court hearings, and trials. "
The three companies that hire the most judges are:
- United States Courts2 judges jobs
- Caesars Entertainment1 judges jobs
- AArapahoe County1 judges jobs
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Judge vs. Assistant state attorney
An Assistant Staff Attorney performs a wide range of clerical and administrative work that requires knowledge of legal terms, documents, and procedures. They also communicate with clients to keep them informed on case progress.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a judge are more likely to require skills like "civil law," "international law," "legal services," and "trial counsel." On the other hand, a job as an assistant state attorney requires skills like "litigation," "appeals," "rehabilitation," and "law enforcement agencies." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Assistant state attorneys earn the highest salaries when working in the government industry, with an average yearly salary of $82,456. On the other hand, judges are paid more in the media industry with an average salary of $116,730.On average, assistant state attorneys reach lower levels of education than judges. Assistant state attorneys are 5.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 33.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Judge vs. Document review attorney
A Document Review Attorney reviews various types of legal documents, such as contract and employment law, intellectual property, and commercial litigation, to identify any areas of risk or information that may need correction.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real judge resumes. While judge responsibilities can utilize skills like "civil law," "international law," "legal services," and "defense counsel," document review attorneys use skills like "litigation," "complex litigation," "e-discovery software," and "law firm."
Document review attorneys earn a lower average salary than judges. But document review attorneys earn the highest pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $99,404. Additionally, judges earn the highest salaries in the media with average pay of $116,730 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Document review attorneys tend to reach similar levels of education than judges. In fact, they're 4.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 33.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Judge vs. Litigation associate
A Litigation Associate offers legal advice for individuals involved in lawsuits and represents them in court. They prepare pleading, collect evidence, defend depositions, and manage the client database.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a judge is likely to be skilled in "civil law," "international law," "legal services," and "defense counsel," while a typical litigation associate is skilled in "litigation," "law firm," "commercial litigation," and "discovery motions."
Litigation associates make a very good living in the professional industry with an average annual salary of $151,203. On the other hand, judges are paid the highest salary in the media industry, with average annual pay of $116,730.Most litigation associates achieve a lower degree level compared to judges. For example, they're 6.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 38.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Judge vs. Magistrate assistant
Types of judge
Updated January 8, 2025