Making justice accessible to families and youth through effective counselling, mediation and adjudication.

The Family Justice Courts administer justice in matters across the continuum of family life, such as the adoption and guardianship of a child, family guidance for a child in need, offences committed by young offenders, protection of family members from financial neglect and family violence, rearrangement of a family’s affairs after the breakdown of a marriage, relocation or return of a child across international borders, deputyship of a person who lacks mental capacity, and the administration of the estate of a deceased person.

The Family Justice Courts comprise the Family Division of the High Court, the Family Courts and the Youth Courts. As a District Judge or Magistrate and Assistant Registrar, you will be part of a team of specialist judges entrusted with the responsibility of administering justice in a variety of cases for families facing different challenges. As a hearing judge, you will manage proceedings, conduct hearings, evaluate evidence and make decisions requiring sound legal judgment and sensitivity to the circumstances of each family. In appropriate cases, you will also work closely with experienced counsellors, psychologists, and social workers, drawing on multidisciplinary expertise to address the needs of families holistically. As a mediation judge, you will conduct mediations at appropriate stages of eligible cases, help parties identify underlying concerns, and reframe charged issues to assist parties reach mutually acceptable solutions.

Family justice is a specialist discipline. Family disputes involve interpersonal conflicts, competing interests, and complex emotional and social dimensions. The Family Justice Courts adopt a judge-led approach informed by the principles of therapeutic justice, with an emphasis on collaborative problem-solving, reducing acrimony and encouraging parties to amicably resolve their disputes within the framework of the law. A family judge must exercise judicial discretion with empathy and sensitivity, while maintaining legal rigour, procedural fairness and impartiality in all cases.
Whilst the work of a family judge is challenging, those with a passion to make a difference will find it immensely meaningful and fulfilling. An appointment to the Family Justice Courts offers the opportunity to contribute to the administration of justice in an area of law where every outcome has a direct and lasting impact for each family. 

Applicants must possess:
(a) the status of a “qualified person” as defined in the Legal Profession Act;
(b) more than five years of relevant experience in criminal, civil and/or family litigation;
(c) strong legal competence and aptitude in the principles of family law and therapeutic justice;
(d) excellent judicial temperament and communication skills; and
(e) sound judgment and aptitude in alternative dispute resolution methods, including working collaboratively with others.

Eligible applicants are invited to submit the Application Form (at http://www.jsc.gov.sg) by 5 pm on Wednesday 30 Dec 2026. Successful applicants will undergo structured training by the Singapore Judicial College and have access to various developmental/learning opportunities.

Email jsc_sec@jsc.gov.sg for queries.