Assumptions and pay data
Pay data: Courts & Judiciary pay. Circuit Judge: one rate of £179,939, rates from 1/4/2026. Checked 6/10/2026.
- Lost pay is your pay before the break multiplied by its length. No pay awards, steps up the scale or allowances are added.
- Circuit Judge has one rate, so you come back on £179,939.
- Judges are office holders, not employees, so the judiciary's own terms decide whether you can take unpaid leave and for how long. Judicial HR confirms what applies.
Career Break Impact Calculator
England (primary coverage)Confirm with your employerFramework from 1/4/2026
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Guide for Circuit Judge
This guide helps Circuit Judge at Courts & Judiciary plan unpaid or non-paid breaks and illustrative re-entry pay on Circuit Judge. Parental leave has separate rules; use the Maternity and Paternity calculator for enhanced pay during leave.
Career breaks for Circuit Judge
A career break, sabbatical or extended unpaid leave may mean no salary for a period. For Circuit Judge on Circuit Judge at Courts & Judiciary, there is no spine point to protect: each judicial salary group has one salary, so re-entry pay is the published salary for the office you return to. Pension and continuous service rules vary by scheme.
Parental leave
Maternity, adoption and shared parental leave have separate statutory and contractual rules. Use the Maternity and Paternity calculator for typical enhanced pay; this tool focuses on unpaid or unpaid-adjacent breaks and re-entry salary.
Example scenario
Example: a 1-year break from £179,939 costs £179,939 in gross pay, returning on the same rate. The calculator opens on 2 years (£359,878).
| Pay before break (example) | £179,939 |
|---|---|
| Break length (example) | 1 year |
| Illustrative lost gross earnings | £179,939 |
| Re-entry (cautious) | Bottom of Circuit Judge |
Frequently asked questions
What would a career break cost me?
At £179,939, about £179,939 for 1 year, £359,878 for 2 years and £899,695 for 5 years, in gross pay. Your take-home loss is smaller, because tax, National Insurance and pension contributions stop too.
Does it allow for the pay rises I would have had?
No. It multiplies your pay before the break by its length. Circuit Judge has one rate, so only a pay award would have changed it.
Where will I come back on the pay scale?
Circuit Judge has one salary, so you come back on the same £179,939, plus any pay award made while you were away.
Does a career break affect my pension?
Ask judicial HR how unpaid time counts in the Judicial Pension Scheme; time without pay does not usually build pension.
Are the results gross or net? Do you store my data?
Unless this page says otherwise, figures are gross (before tax, National Insurance and pension). Your calculator inputs and results stay in your browser and are not stored. We only collect your name and email if you choose to give them, for example to download your results or sign up for email updates. We store them with MailerLite, our email provider, along with the page you were on. See our privacy policy.
About this role
What is a Circuit Judge?
A Circuit Judge hears cases in the Crown Court or county court. Pay is one salary for their judicial salary group (group 5.2).
Typical demands, progression and balance
Circuit judge roles offer significant responsibility. Pay and satisfaction depend on circuit and role. Progression to High Court judge is possible.
What if I take a career break?
Returning after a break can affect pay and spine position. Use the calculator above to see illustrative re-entry pay and lost earnings.
Disclaimer
Illustrative estimates, not financial or career advice. Your payslip and contract decide what you are actually paid.