Court Clerk Training Covers Classroom Learning and Hands on learning in Courtroom Settings

Court support services include a variety of daily tasks that are fundamental to judicial proceedings in courts. The court clerks are responsible for processing legal documents, maintaining records, handling payments for fees, fines and other court costs and maintaining court calendars. Their job responsibilities also include reviewing law suits and briefs submitted to the court to ensure their accuracy and maintaining the dockets of scheduled cases.

The court clerks/monitors also have to deal with public while listening to their complaints, helping them with court procedure issues and answering their questions regarding trial dates, court appearances, outstanding warrants, court orders and summonses. In addition to this, the professionals also work with judges, lawyers and other courtroom personnel.

Career Prospects

Court clerks are employed with municipal courts, tribunals and boards, the Ministry of Attorney General and court reporting services. They are generally responsible for administrative work. A large part of their job includes managing the paperwork or handling court records. However, their roles and responsibilities may vary depending upon the courts they serve, the region they work in and their qualification and work experience. Additional duties can vary depending upon who they assist – a judge, a lawyer or any other courtroom personnel.

The typical work activities associated with this job title include:

• Preparing dockets or calendars of the cases to be called
• Instructing parties about timings of court appearances
• Explaining court procedures to general public or parties in the cases
• Preparing documents regarding the outcomes of court proceedings
• Maintaining legal documents
• Recording case dispositions and court orders including summonses, fine information, sentencing information, probation orders and release documentation
• Contacting parties in cases, attorneys and witnesses to collect required information
• Examining legal documents submitted to the court

With education and experience, court clerks can advance to higher positions or assume specific roles. However, to seek entry level positions in this field, you need to undergo formal education and court clerk training in Toronto.

Court Support Services Program

A court support services program prepares students for careers for entry level clerical positions in federal courts, tribunals and boards and municipal courts. It gives them an opportunity to gain in-depth understanding into legal and professional environments. The program exposes them to current issues in the Canadian law, helping them learn about ethics and professional conduct in criminal as well as family courts.

The one-year post secondary program helps you build strong theoretical foundations in court monitoring while providing you with opportunities to practical hands-on-learning. You take on practical career oriented assignments and attend various tribunal and court hearings as a part of your course. This gives you hands-on municipal court training, which is much required to gain an understanding of how things take place in the real world.

Enrolling in a Court Support Services Program

Centennial College in Canada offers post-secondary court support services programs. The program combines classroom learning and practical training that is approved by the Ministry of Attorney General.

In order to apply for this program, you will need:

• Secondary school diploma or equivalent
• English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent

The program qualifies you for assuming clerical positions in municipal courts, tribunal and boards and the Ministry of Attorney General.