Skip to main content

Judge & Magistrate

Law

Arbitrate, advise, adjudicate, or administer justice in a court of law. May sentence defendant in criminal cases according to government statutes or sentencing guidelines. May determine liability of defendant in civil cases. May perform wedding ceremonies.

Law

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Sentence defendants in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to applicable government statutes.
  2. 2Rule on custody and access disputes, and enforce court orders regarding custody and support of children.
  3. 3Monitor proceedings to ensure that all applicable rules and procedures are followed.
  4. 4Instruct juries on applicable laws, direct juries to deduce the facts from the evidence presented, and hear their verdicts.
  5. 5Write decisions on cases.
  6. 6Read documents on pleadings and motions to ascertain facts and issues.
  7. 7Rule on admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting testimony.
  8. 8Preside over hearings and listen to allegations made by plaintiffs to determine whether the evidence supports the charges.
  9. 9Conduct preliminary hearings to decide issues, such as whether there is reasonable and probable cause to hold defendants in felony cases.
  10. 10Award compensation for damages to litigants in civil cases in relation to findings by juries or by the court.
  11. 11Advise attorneys, juries, litigants, and court personnel regarding conduct, issues, and proceedings.
  12. 12Research legal issues and write opinions on the issues.
  13. 13Grant divorces and divide assets between spouses.
  14. 14Interpret and enforce rules of procedure or establish new rules in situations where there are no procedures already established by law.
  15. 15Participate in judicial tribunals to help resolve disputes.
  16. 16Issue arrest warrants.
  17. 17Settle disputes between opposing attorneys.
  18. 18Impose restrictions upon parties in civil cases until trials can be held.
  19. 19Supervise other judges, court officers, and the court's administrative staff.
  20. 20Provide information regarding the judicial system or other legal issues through the media and public speeches.
  21. 21Perform wedding ceremonies.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Judge
  • Jurist
  • Justice
  • Magistrate
  • Chief Judge
  • County Judge
  • Police Judge
  • Tribal Judge
  • Circuit Judge
  • Legal Referee

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. 3

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. Typical entry

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationDoctoral degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

History (Sejarah)Draws directly on Law and Government — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
BusinessDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EconomicsDraws directly on Administration and Management — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Law and Government98%

    History (Sejarah)

  • English Language90%

    English

  • Administration and Management72%

    BusinessEconomics

  • Psychology67%
  • Customer and Personal Service65%
  • Public Safety and Security62%

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Handling conflict situationsEvery day
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never

Where this job is heading

Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.

  • Issue search or arrest warrants.

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

6%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
See pay for a related career: Advocate & Solicitor (Lawyer)

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

Related careers

If this interests you, these are worth a look too.

About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org