LEGAL TERMINOLOGY YEAR 1 (DIDASKALEION)

In Greece, becoming a judge is a rather complicated procedure. In order to apply you need to be a Law School Graduate, be at least 28 years old in age and have practiced law for at least 2 years. Afterwards, you will need to undertake written as well as oral exams. If someone succeeds, she/he will have to study in the National School of the Judiciary based in Thessaloniki for one year. In order to acquire a ticket in an Appellate Court you have to be promoted. This basically means, being a first-instance judge for several years in order to acquire the knowledge and experience needed. We could say that it's a process within the court's administration.

The procedure of becoming a judge in Greece is way different comparatively to other countries. Persons who want to be appointed as judges are required to pass written and oral exams organized by the Greek Ministry of Justice, and then attend classes in National School of Judges, based in Thessaloniki, for one year. In order to participate in the exams, candidates have to be at least 28 years old and 45 maximum, have practiced law as barristers for at least 2 years or having been state employees in courts for 5 years or more. Moreover, to get a promotion and be appointed in an Appelate Court, there isn’t a formal procedure or other criteria, rather than being experienced and knowledgeable, and not having dealed with a disciplinary misconduct.

The procedure of becoming a judge in the High Court in UK and in an Appelate Court in Greece have similarities and differences. First of all, a prerequisite for someone to be appointed as a High Court Judge is to obtain a law degree and succeed in their legal professional life. They can be barristers or solicitors, spending many years at the Bar, or academics or judges in subordinate courts. They do not have to be from specific backgrounds to apply for the High Court Bench,due to the fact that their personality and their achievements are of paramount importance . Therefore, they can apply and acquire a ticket in the High Court. On the contrary, some presuppositions for becoming a judge in an Appelate Court in Greece is to be a Greek citizen and to acquire a degree from a Law University. Another requirement is the age, as the candidates have to be between 28 and 45 years old. Furthermore, he/she have to practice law for at least for 2 years, in order to take exams, oral and written. If they succeed, they will attend the National School of Judges in Thessaloniki for one year. At the end, they take the final exams, which are a prerequisite to be at the list. To get a ticket in an Appelate court, a judge need to sit several years in a first-instance court and then be promoted.

The preconditions to acquire a ticket in an Appellate Court here in Greece are standard, as in every country. We can find the criteria as the aforementioned in the law 3689/2008 and the reformative one 3910/2011.

Only a judge in a first-instance court can acquire a ticket in an Appelate Court. He/she must have been serving on the bench for eight years at least. Of course, they must also not have any discipline record. Then, the judge is entitled to a promotion, i.e. judge at the Appelate Court, but only theoretically. In essence, the promotion delays for several years, considering the "long life" post of the judges.