A Judge is person on whom the decision making power is vested in the court of law. He might act either alone or with a panel of other judges. A magistrate is someone who is superior to the judge. In civil cases, he has partial authority in administering law enforcement.

Judge course and career opportunities

It is a must for a judge to be a qualified BA.LLB. They must have secured atleast 55% marks in their final exams. After the completion of the LLB course, candidates can write the State Judicial Law Entrance Exam. In case a candidate interested in becoming a judge of court in another state then he/she needs to appear for the public service commission of that state. It is a must for candidates who would like to become High Court Judges to have a minimum 3 years of experience in the Lower Courts. Candidates who want to become a Judge in the Supreme Court of Justice must have atleast 10 years experience in the High Court. Supreme Court Judges are selected by the President of India.

Magistrate course and career opportunities

Those candidates who have completed their Graduates in Law are eligible to become magistrates. They should be at least 21- 35 years at the time of applying. Candidates who have completed their LLM degree with a minimum of 55% marks are also eligible to apply. After finishing this course, the candidates can apply for the State Judicial Law Entrance Exam. These exams are carried out by the respective State governments.

Key differentiators

While judges take up cases of all sorts, Magistrates try only civil cases. Depending on the jurisdiction there is a difference in power and authority vested on the Judge. Also there is a difference in the method of appointment. The training imparted to them also varies. In the trials of civil cases that are conducted in the Supreme Court, the Magistrate will also act as a Judge.