Addressing the court
31 August 2022
Your obligations
Using the correct terms of address will avoid a mistake which may damage your credibility and can help meet the following requirements of our Competence Statement:
- B5 Undertake effective written and spoken advocacy
- C1 Communicate clearly and effectively, orally and in writing
Making sure your client knows the correct terms can also help you provide a good standard of service and meet their particular needs.
Terms of address to use
Terms to use in the courts and tribunals of England and Wales:
Magistrates
- 'Sir' or 'Madam' or if addressing more than one Magistrate, 'Your Worships'.
- Address them in written correspondence by using their prefix followed by their full name and begin letters 'Dear [Full Name]'.
District judges
- 'Sir', 'Madam' or 'Judge'
- Address them in correspondence as 'District Judge [Surname] and begin letters with 'Dear Judge'.
Employment judges
- 'Sir', 'Madam' or 'Judge'
- Address them in correspondence as 'Employment Judge [Surname]' and begin letters with 'Dear Judge'.
Tribunal judges
- 'Sir', 'Madam' or 'Judge'
- Address them in correspondence as 'Tribunal Judge [Surname]' and begin letters with 'Dear Judge'.
Circuit judges (Crown or County Court) and some High Court divisions
- 'Your Honour'
- Address them in correspondence as His/Her Honour Judge [Surname]’ and begin letters with 'Dear Judge'.
High Court judges
- 'My Lord' or 'My Lady'
- Address them in correspondence as 'The Honourable [Prefix] Justice [Surname] and begin letters with 'Dear Judge'.
Heads of Divisions
- Right Honourable The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
- The Right Honourable The Master of the Rolls
- The Right Honourable The President of the Queen's Bench Division
- The Right Honourable The President of the Family Division/Court of Protection
- The Right Honourable The Chancellor of the High Court.
Lord/Lady of Appeal
- 'My Lord' or 'My Lady'
- Address them in correspondence as ‘The Rt Hon Lord/Lady Justice [Surname]' and begin letters with ‘Dear Lord/Lady Justice [Surname]'.
Justice of the Supreme Court
- 'My Lord' or 'My Lady'
- Address them in correspondence as ‘The Rt Hon Lord/Lady [Surname]' and begin letters with 'Dear Lord/Lady [Name]' or 'Dear Lord/Lady [Surname]'.