Current Vacancies
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The Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland (JABS) invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced individuals who wish to be considered for appointment to the Office of Sheriff. This is an important opportunity to contribute to justice in Scotland.
The essential requirement for the role of a Sheriff is to possess the ability and legal standing to perform the functions of the office. This requires knowledge and experience not only of civil law and practice but also that relating to summary and solemn crime.
It is essential that those applying for appointment as a Sheriff who do not have knowledge or experience in each of these disciplines demonstrate the ability to acquire knowledge in unfamiliar areas of the law.
There are four vacancies, one 0.5 FTE vacancy and three full time vacancies. Those appointed to resident posts (Dumfries and Lerwick Sheriff Courts) will be expected to remain at the location before seeking a transfer for a period of five years. Those appointed to the floating post (Campbeltown and Oban Sheriff Courts) will be expected to remain at the location before seeking a transfer for a period of two years.
See further details on these vacancies and the requirements below.
Sheriffdom | Post/Base Court(s) | Further Details |
South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway | 2 x Sheriff / Dumfries Sheriff Court * | 1 x to cover all areas of business with significant civil experience.
1 x to cover all areas of business with significant criminal experience.
The successful candidates must reside within 1 hour and 15 minutes from Dumfries Sheriff Court. |
Grampian Highland & Islands | 0.5 FTE x Sheriff / Lerwick Sheriff Court ** | The FTE 0.5 reflects the sitting requirements of this court which sits ‘2 weeks on, 2 weeks off’.
The successful candidate must reside in the Sheriffdom of Grampian, Highland and Islands. |
North Strathclyde | 1 x Sheriff / Campbeltown & Oban Sheriff Courts (Floating) *** | To cover all areas of business. The successful candidate must reside within one hour of Oban Sheriff Court. |
*In addition, there may be a requirement to work at other courts within the Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway.
**If the successful candidate does not live in Lerwick, arrangements for the reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses can be discussed between candidates and Judicial Office for Scotland. If you wish to discuss travel expenses with the Judicial Office for Scotland before applying, please contact JABS in the first instance by emailing, mailbox@jabs.gov.scot.
*** The successful candidate will be based primarily in Oban and Campbeltown for three weeks each month and will also be required to work one day per month at Lochgilphead Sheriff Court with the remaining time being spent elsewhere in the Sheriffdom of North Strathclyde as required. This will most regularly be Dumbarton Sheriff Court.
The salary for a full-time Sheriff is currently £173,854 per annum.
Further information on the role and application process can be found in the following documents and YouTube channel:
· Office of Sheriff Role Profile, prepared by the Judicial Office for Scotland, provides applicants with information about the role and the work of a Sheriff.
· JABS Application Guidance Note contains important information designed to support applicants with the process.
· A FAQ document has been prepared. Further questions are welcome at mailbox@jabs.gov.scot and answers will be anonymised and published.
· JABS YouTube channel includes the following videos:
o Liz Burnley, JABS Lay Member and Panel Chair introducing the competition
o Sheriff Principal Dowdalls KC on the posts at Dumfries Sheriff Court
o Sheriff Principal MacDonald on the post at Lerwick Sheriff Court
o Sheriff Principal Ross on the post at Campbeltown & Oban Sheriff Court
o Sheriff Sutherland on working as a Sheriff in a remote or rural area
o Denise Loney, JABS Legal Member on the Legal Application and Interview process guidance
It is expected that the successful candidates will be appointed on 31 August 2026, when they will commence the induction process with the Judicial Institute.
We encourage applications from a wide and diverse range of suitably qualified people. The principles of fair and open competition will apply and recommendation for appointment will be made solely on merit.
To apply via our online application system, GetGot, please click here.
Applications must be submitted by noon on Tuesday 3 March 2026