Court Clerk - Job Description and Educational Requirements

A court clerk is an officer of the court who is responsible for

• Maintaining the records of a court
• Administer oaths to witnesses, jurors and grand jurors
• Authenticate the copies of the court orders and judgements
• Processing legal documents
• Reviewing law suits
• Maintaining dockets of scheduled cases
• Explaining court procedures to the parties involved in the case
• Collecting required information by contacting attorneys and parties in cases
• Recording court summonses, probation orders, fine information and sentencing and release documents
• Answering questions of parties involved in cases on trial dates, outstanding warrants and court appearances

A large part of their job includes administrative activities. The professionals provide clerical support to judges for court room proceedings. However, their exact job responsibilities may vary depending upon the employment, and individual qualification and experience.

Employment

Court clerks or judicial clerks may find employment with

• Municipal courts
• Official examiners
• Tribunals and boards
• Court reporting services
• Superior court of justice
• The Ministry of the Attorney General

The role of a court clerk is multi-faceted and includes working judges, lawyers and other courtroom personnel. They need to obtain a thorough understanding and practical court clerk training in Toronto, in order to pursue a career in legal environment, precisely court support services. In fact, this is the minimum requirement that they need to fulfill before entering the world of work.

In addition to this, the professionals are expected to have strong communication, legal writing and interpersonal skills, as a large part of their job includes communicating with people.

Becoming a Court Clerk in Canada

A formal education in court support services can help prospective court clerks gain knowledge and skills required to work in legal environment. The program combines classroom learning, practical career-oriented assignments, and practical hands-on-learning in diverse courtroom settings, including family, criminal, municipal, small claims and tribunal court settings.

The court support services program typically runs for one year and covers a wide range of subjects including in two semesters.

Semester 1 subjects include:

• Court Clerk Criminal – OCJ
• Court Clerk Family 1
• Court Monitor 1
• Ethics and Professional Conduct
• Current Issues in Canadian Law
• Introduction to Word Processing

Semester 2 subjects include:

• Communications – CTSS
• Court Register – SCJ – Civil/Criminal
• Court Clerk Criminal – OCJ/YCJ
• Court Clerk – Family 2
• Court Monitor 2
• Clerk/POA
• Word Processing Applications

The program also provides students with legal and practical municipal court training through attendances in municipal courts. They also get to attend tribunal, family and criminal court sessions.

Enrolment Details

In order to apply for a post-secondary program in court support services, you will need:

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

A number of colleges in Canada offer court support services program. However, they may not provide hands-on-learning through live courtroom sessions, which is a necessary condition to enter the world of work.

Centennial College's court support services program provides students with education and hands-on-learning that has been approved by the Ministry of the Attorney General. The graduates of this program can work as court clerks, court monitors and reporters.