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A Judge is someone appointed by the state to review, hear, and rule on court cases. Generally a person will become a lower court judge after working as an attorney. The training that is required is intense as there are a lot of things that will be handled in this type of courtroom. Hearings are normally set for a certain time of day and then there is another part of the day that is reserved strictly for draft orders. Uncontested docket hearings are scheduled for another part of the day as well. The rest of the time is spent researching and reviewing court case matters.

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Judges typically work alone, unless part of a special committee such as the Supreme Court. Most of the day is spent either sitting in a court room or looking over case files in your chambers. You work five days a week, usually for upwards of 40 hours, but you may be called at any time for emergency issues such as approving warrants.

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Judges earn a yearly salary; in Pennsylvania, the salary for the lowest tier of judge (common court of pleas) is $219,933 exactly. The amount is determined each year by the federal government. Benefits for the position include retirement plans, health and life insurance, holiday and paid leave, and various supplemental programs.

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All judges are employed in the public sector by state and federal governments. In Pennsylvania, there are around 3,000 court of common plea judges. Most judgeships are located in the hearts of each county/district, typically in a major city or large town.

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Qualifications for the job include a undergraduate degree in pre-law or political science and a Juris Doctorate. This requires law school to obtain. Judges should be objective, studious, and patient, as all three of those traits assist with making fair decisions and rulings in cases. Extracurriculars and courses such as Mock Trial and AP Government would be the most highly valued.

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The best schools in Pennsylvania for pre-law include UPenn, Villanova, Penn State, Dickinson, and UPitt. Each of these schools are well known for their in depth and elite pre-law programs.

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Benefits:

1. You make fantastic money, and have great retirement packages

2. You can make a meaningful and tangible impact to your community

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Downside:

1. You handle people's lives and livelihoods in your hands, you can face massive stress and guilt due to the decisions you make