What are Investigators?

At least one UJC Investigator is assigned to each case to serve as an impartial party. Investigators’ primary duties include scheduling and conducting interviews with all parties and witnesses individually and compiling an impartial, agreed upon account of the event in question. Investigators use this account to write an Investigator’s Report (IR) for each trial, which is read by all judges at the beginning of the trial. Investigators additionally handle evidence and record trial proceedings for appeal documentation. 

Beyond their role in trials, Investigators are expected to participate in general body and Investigator-specific meetings, as well as communicate effectively with other members of the UJC and the broader UVA Community.

Why should you be an Investigator?

Investigators play an invaluable role in the UJC process due to their interactions with UJC members staffed on a case, including trial chairs and counselors, as well as the accused party, the complainant party, and all witnesses. Once assigned to a case by the Senior Investigator, it is the Investigator’s job to independently build the IR. The ability to handle a caseload comes with a lot of responsibility, but working individually with the complainant and accused parties is incredibly rewarding. Investigators themselves will benefit from the consistent practices of critical thinking, concise writing, communication skills, time management, and attention to detail that come with performing their duties.

How to Apply to be an Investigator

Investigator recruitment occurs at the beginning of each academic year during the fall semester. Interested students should attend a UJC information session and complete an application. Interviews are offered based on the initial written application. 

If selected as an Investigator, one should expect to complete a full semester of training (with mandatory weekly training) and shadow a case before beginning to take on their own caseload.

An Ideal Investigator Candidate

An ideal Investigator candidate would feel strongly about promoting the mission of the UJC with respect to all parties involved in the trial process. To fulfill the duties of an Investigator, one would need the following skills: attention to detail, initiative when working alone, empathy for all parties while remaining unbiased, efficient email communication, thorough organization, and overall professionalism. A new Investigator should have a flexible schedule and should be up to any challenges thrown their way

Finally, the Senior Investigator is committed to increasing the diversity of the pool in order to best represent the broader University community. Please direct any questions to the current Senior Investigator, whose information can be found on the Executive Committee page.