how to become a JP

[muddymech]

hi all


does anyone know how to become a JP, its something i decided to do after getting my citizenship partly as i have had to lean on JP for a lot of form signing during our process of being here.

so far have got my character statements but im falling down on getting a letter for the reason to have me become a JP.

so far work has refused poiont blank, to be more specic my manager refused it in about 2sec flat, despite our dept of 10 and customer service of about 13 not having a JP.

HR will do me a letter but need approval from my nice understanding boss.


The land rover club has refused as they deem there to be enough JP in the club and additional ones would........well not sure what an additional JP would cost them but alas its not with in there requirements.

should i be giving up now, or is there another route i could take, the only one i can think of is a quick chat with my MP see if he can help.

has anyone else been down this route that may be able to help with ideas.

thanks ian

[Redback]

Ask Sheridan she's a JP i think, you do realise you can't sign anything of yours or Lou, as she is deemed as a defacto.

Baz.

[muddymech]

Ask Sheridan she's a JP i think, you do realise you can't sign anything of yours or Lou, as she is deemed as a defacto.

Baz.


yes did realise that, just wanted be able to return the favour be of a little bit of help to others.
seems that may be a little harder than i realised.

[Redback]

Sheridan will know, there may be a waiting period too (ie) need too be an Aussie for a certain time maybe, i shouldn't think it will be that hard dealong with public servants:whistling::wallbash:

Baz.

[Utemad]

Must be different in NSW. Up here if you want to be a JP you just do it by yourself. You need referees but no letter of recommendation.

Do you have 'Commissioner for Declarations' in NSW. You don't even need to sit a test for that up here. Just be a good person.

[p38arover]

I used to be a JP but I didn't renew when NSW stopped the lifetime appointments a couple of years ago. I couldn't get the letter showing a community need.

I did do the TAFE course prior to becoming a JP.

A lot of documents don't need a JP, they only need a person meeting certain criteria, e.g. govt. employee, nurse, doctor, pharmacist, etc.

[muddymech]

Must be different in NSW. Up here if you want to be a JP you just do it by yourself. You need referees but no letter of recommendation.

Do you have 'Commissioner for Declarations' in NSW. You don't even need to sit a test for that up here. Just be a good person.



my application forms says i need reference [(x2) got this part easily] and a reason to become a JP (lroc sydney and work were my two options but both refused a letter) which is were i'm coming unstuck, not sure what a commissioner for declarations is, will look that up tomorrow when i have time, might be a solution thanks.

[muddymech]

I used to be a JP but I didn't renew when NSW stopped the lifetime appointments a couple of years ago. I couldn't get the letter showing a community need.

I did do the TAFE course prior to becoming a JP.

A lot of documents don't need a JP, they only need a person meeting certain criteria, e.g. govt. employee, nurse, doctor, pharmacist, etc.


thanks, i knew i would have to read up on it, but did not realise that the appointment had to be renewed after you got it, i can sign some documnets already due to work quals, may be i need to go back and check it out, just seems a shame when some one is willing to offer something it becomes hard, we know from experiance when we arrived in the country finding a Jp even knowing what a JP is was a whole new concept that made simple things like getting a creditr card that bit harder.

[Utemad]

my application forms says i need reference [(x2) got this part easily] and a reason to become a JP (lroc sydney and work were my two options but both refused a letter) which is were i'm coming unstuck, not sure what a commissioner for declarations is, will look that up tomorrow when i have time, might be a solution thanks.

A C.Dec up here is what you get if you just want to be able to sign documents and the like. A JP (Qualified) can do a lot more and a JP (Magistrates Court) can even sit in place of a magistrate. Only when one is not available and I think they are an outback/remote sort of thing and I think they cannot decide much.

I'm a Qld JP (Qual). Just sign speeding tickets for friends mostly :)

[p38arover]

even knowing what a JP is was a whole new concept that made simple things like getting a credit card that bit harder.

JPs came about in the early days of Australian settlement when there were few, if any, magistrates, etc. in the fledgling colony. They had more power than a JP in Great Britain. Until recently, appointment as a JP was for life (in this State) but the Govt thought there were too many of us and not enough of us were readily available to the comunity. There is a register of JPs on a govt. website so they are easy enough to find - see Lawlink NSW: Justices of the Peace - Register (http://jp.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/public/welcomePublic.do)

We can't marry people, though. You need to be a Celebrant for that - that's a Federal govt. issue.

[solmanic]

Just pay your local state member a visit and get them to write you a reference. They are usually obliging and you only really need to say that you want to be one to help serve your local community.

I remember I had a sit down meeting with my local member when I applied.

[JohnE]

for what its worth, my 5 cents worth,
a total waste of time, as Ron said with the changes in the JP appointments and proper justification who would want to go throught he whole time wasting process.
If You need a JP just go into a local Court House.or visit your older Chemists. And as Ron said certain professions fulfil the criteria.
I can;t see the LROC of Sydney and your workplace as fulfilling the last point.


be at least 18 years of age
be nominated by a member of the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council (MP or MLC)
be an Australian citizen or a person who is entitled to vote at a general election, unless the Attorney General exempts the person from having to satisfy this criterion
be of good character
consent in writing to confidential inquiries being made as to the person’s suitability for appointment, including a criminal records check
not be an undischarged bankrupt
establish that your appointment as a justice of the peace is required for your employment or to fulfil a community-based need for the appointmentthen you have to go through this


application is checked for completeness (complete applications are entered on the JP database and incomplete ones returned to the applicant)
acknowledgement is sent to applicant and nominator MP
criminal record check is requested from the NSW Police Force
application is progressed subject to suitability (following police check)
applicant is included in a schedule of appointment for the Minister’s recommendation
schedule of appointment is forwarded to the Governor for approval


john