How much do you get paid for jury duty in the UK?
Asked by: Alayna Kilback | Last update: February 8, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (10 votes)
You don't get paid a salary for UK jury duty, but you can claim expenses for loss of earnings (up to a daily max, e.g., £64.95 for over 4 hrs initially), travel, food (£5.71/day), and childcare/carer costs, ensuring you're not out of pocket. Employers must give time off but aren't required to pay wages, though some do as a goodwill gesture.
Do you get paid to do jury duty in the UK?
You will not be paid for doing jury service, but you can claim some money back if you lose earnings. You can also claim some expenses, for example travel.
What is the highest jury duty pay?
Juror Pay
- Pay of $50 a day; eligible to receive up to $60 a day after serving 10 days if the presiding judge so orders. ...
- Reimbursement for reasonable transportation expenses and, in some courts, parking fees.
- Subsistence allowances covering meals and lodging if required to stay overnight.
What are the odds of getting jury duty in the UK?
According to the BBC, adults in England and Wales have a 35% chance of being called up for jury service during their lifetime. If you're an employer, that means it's quite likely that it will happen to one of your employees at one time or another — and it's important to be prepared.
Can you say no to jury service in the UK?
You can also ask to be excused from jury service if you've done it in the last 2 years. If you do not do jury service this time, you could still receive a summons in the future. To ask to be excused, reply to your jury summons explaining your reasons in detail.
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What is the best excuse to avoid jury duty?
The best ways to get out of jury duty involve seeking official exemptions for valid reasons like age (over 70/75), medical conditions (with a doctor's note), primary childcare (under 6), or financial hardship (demonstrable income loss), or requesting a deferral online or by mail with supporting documents. During selection (voir dire), be honest about biases or situations (like family tragedy, travel) that prevent impartiality, as attorneys often excuse jurors who openly struggle with fairness, but avoid outright lying, which can backfire.
What happens if you don't respond to jury duty in the UK?
It is very important that you do reply to the summons and give true information. If you do not, the Coroner has the power to have you brought to court by the Police and fined. If you are away on holiday when the form arrives, or if you have some other good reason for not replying straight away, don't panic.
What happens if you fall asleep during jury duty in the UK?
"By judges' estimates, this had happened in more than 2,300 cases." King also asked, and learned, what those judges did to those sleepers: "Sleeping jurors were usually awakened and offered a break, or a chance to drink water, cola, or coffee, but not reprimanded.
What is the shortest time a jury has deliberated?
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the shortest jury deliberation ever is one minute. On July 22, 2004, a New Zealand jury took one minute to acquit a defendant charged with cultivating cannabis plants.
Why are we paid so little for jury duty?
We're paid so little for jury duty because it's considered a civic duty, not a job, with small payments meant for expenses like gas and food, not lost wages, though this creates significant hardship, especially for low-income workers, as employer pay isn't federally required, leading to low overall compensation that struggles to match minimum wage and hinders diverse participation in the justice system.
Do wealthy people do jury duty?
Jury duty is truly unique among American experiences, for one simple reason: Even the most rich and famous among us can't get out of it.
Does Starbucks pay for jury duty?
All partners are eligible. Starbucks will pay you for any scheduled workdays or shifts missed for jury or witness duty. Retail management and non-retail partners are eligible. One personal day is awarded each July 1 and January 1, and must be taken within the following six-month period.
Is jury duty only for British citizens?
Additionally, anyone called up for jury service must have been a resident of the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for a period of five years since the age of 13.
Why do I keep getting picked for jury duty?
You keep getting summoned for jury duty because selection is usually random from large lists (voter, DMV, taxes), so it's a matter of chance, but it can be influenced by your name/address appearing multiple times (maiden/married names), living in a busy court district, or if your previous service was short, letting you be called again sooner. The system aims for fairness, but random algorithms can make some people seem luckier (or unluckier) than others, even if you're excused for a period.
How to get picked for jury duty in the UK?
The jury for a trial is selected by a random ballot. You don't need to go to court for this to happen. On the day of the ballot you will get a call from the court to tell you if you have been selected to be on the jury. You'll be given information about the trial as well.
What happens if I cry during jury duty?
Crying alone may not be juror misconduct. But there are circumstances where a juror's emotions may result in an unfair trial.
What are two things jurors should never do?
Jurors should never discuss the case with anyone outside the jury (including family/friends) or conduct their own investigation, like visiting the scene or looking up info online, as the verdict must be based solely on courtroom evidence; these actions risk introducing bias and jeopardizing the trial's fairness. Another critical "never" is to decide by chance, such as by flipping coins, which makes a verdict illegal.
What are the odds of being called for jury duty in the UK?
The chances of being called for Jury Service vary depending on where you live. In England and Wales, the chance is 35%. Only about half of those people will spend any time in court. In Scotland, the chances are much higher at 95%.
What happens if you don't pay attention in jury duty?
If you don't pay attention in jury duty, you risk serious consequences like being held in contempt of court, facing fines (potentially up to $1,000), or even jail time, as jurors are legally required to be attentive and follow instructions; a judge might need to restart proceedings, and you could be questioned in court about misconduct, with penalties varying by jurisdiction.
Can a jury ignore the law?
While jurors are expected to follow the judge's instructions and apply the law, they possess the inherent power to acquit if they believe a conviction would be unjust. Jury nullification is relevant only to trial juries because they deliver final verdicts. Grand juries do not.
What happens if I don't show up for jury duty in Massachusetts?
Skipping jury duty in Massachusetts is illegal and triggers a serious delinquency process, starting with a "Failure to Appear Notice," followed by more warnings, and can escalate to a court hearing, criminal complaint, arrest warrant (leading to potential arrest), substantial fines (up to $2,000), license suspension, and denial of benefits, as the state actively pursues non-compliant jurors to uphold the justice system.
Is anxiety an excuse for jury duty?
Yes, severe anxiety can get you out of jury duty if you provide documentation from a doctor proving it's a mental disability that prevents you from serving, often requiring a physician's note explaining how it affects concentration or causes undue hardship, though judges might offer accommodations or postponement instead of outright excusal. The key is proving it's a genuine inability to focus or function during service, not just a preference to avoid it.
Can you go to jail for not attending jury duty in the UK?
This is contempt of court and you can be fined or sent to prison.
Can you talk about jury duty afterwards in the UK?
Even after the trial is over, you MUST NOT DISCUSS what was said or done by you or any other member of the jury while the jury was in the DELIBERATING ROOM trying to reach a verdict, unless it is for the purpose of an official investigation into the conduct of any juror.