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Job Profile: Court Clerk
The Job
- Court clerks perform clerical duties in courts of law, including preparing the docket or calendar of cases to be called and letting parties know when to appear in court.
Court clerks work in courtrooms and offices.
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- They secure information for judges, and contact witnesses, attorneys and litigants to obtain information for court.
- Clerks record the minutes of court proceedings, using stenotype machines or shorthand, and transcribe testimony, using typewriters or computers.
- Court clerks administer the oath to witnesses.
Skills
Court clerks work with judges, lawyers and police officers but are not supervised directly by them.
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- Ability to perform day-to-day administrative tasks and provide information to supervisors, fellow workers, subordinates and the public.
- General knowledge of the law and legal terminology as well as courtroom practices and procedures.
- Ability to record, transcribe and organize information. Experience preparing and processing legal forms is also necessary. Proficiency using a stenotype machine or with shorthand transcribing.
Education
- Court clerks generally must have a high school diploma or GED. Some employers prefer applicants who have college degrees.
- Many community colleges offer courses in court operations, corrections and legal office practices. Other recommended courses include typing, legal terminology, word processing and bookkeeping.
Outlook
- Nationally, the employment of court clerks is expected to grow at an average rate through 2008 due to the growing number of court cases.
Most employers look for clerks who have at least two years experience.
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Even though computers allow clerks to do more work, additional clerks will be needed to keep up with the work.
Related Careers
Search Jobs with These Keywords:
Court clerk
Legal assistant
Legal secretary
Paralegal
Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2000-01 Edition, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor; O*NET OnLine, US Department of Labor
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