Careers in Justice > Court Clerk
Profession at a Glance
Court clerks are like stage managers for the courtroom. Court clerks set the date and time for hearings. They also look after evidence and ask witnesses to “Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” Court clerks make sure that judges have all the different court documents and evidence they need so that hearings go smoothly.
To learn more about a court clerk’s work, click through the tabs above.
Job Description
Court clerks’ work is divided into 4 main areas: assisting judges, preparing case files, coordinating hearings and closing case files.
As you may have guessed, court clerks work in courthouses. All across Quebec, in small towns and big cities, courthouses need court clerks to keep things running smoothly.
Assisting Judges
Court clerks help judges carry out their work and act as their official assistants.They write letters and emails on behalf of judges, answer phone calls and manage the judge’s agenda.
During a trial, the court clerk organizes all the relevant legal documents the judge might need and makes sure he has them handy. The court clerk also keeps track of who speaks during a hearing.
After a hearing, a court clerk helps the judge by putting the written judgement of the case in the right format and closing the file.
During a trial, the court clerk organizes all the relevant legal documents the judge might need and makes sure he has them handy. The court clerk also keeps track of who speaks during a hearing.
After a hearing, a court clerk helps the judge by putting the written judgement of the case in the right format and closing the file.
Preparing Case Files
At the beginning of a court case, a file is created. This court file contains all the necessary documents (forms, evidence, prior court decisions, etc.) related to a case. Sometimes a case file is big enough to fill several boxes. The court clerk opens court files for each case and ensures that the files are complete and respect all the relevant legal rules. He also looks after these files during and after the hearing.
Coordinating Hearings
Court clerks manage the administrative side of a hearing from start to finish. In addition to speaking with the lawyers to choose a date and time for the trial, the court clerk also plans any meetings that need to take place between the judge, lawyers and parties. For example, sometimes the judge and lawyers meet in the judge’s office before a hearing to discuss things like evidence or to try to agree on an issue before it goes to court.
On the day of a hearing, the clerk is very busy. He must post a list of cases taking place that day (a schedule) inside the courtroom and give the lawyers a copy of the timetable for the hearing. The court clerk is also responsible for making sure that all the lawyers, parties and witnesses are in court, and that all the case files have been given to the judge.
Court clerks continue to coordinate the hearing once it begins. They open the court session by calling out the name of the case and asking the lawyers to present themselves to the court. Court clerks also keep track of who is speaking and in what order.
Another important aspect of a court clerk’s job is looking after evidence or documents that lawyers want to give to a judge. The court clerk makes a list of each piece of evidence before passing it to the judge during a hearing. During a hearing, the court clerk is the person who gets to call witnesses to the front of the courtroom and ask them to tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”.
Since hearings can be complicated, the court clerk takes notes on important issues so that the judge can concentrate on what the lawyers are saying.
On the day of a hearing, the clerk is very busy. He must post a list of cases taking place that day (a schedule) inside the courtroom and give the lawyers a copy of the timetable for the hearing. The court clerk is also responsible for making sure that all the lawyers, parties and witnesses are in court, and that all the case files have been given to the judge.
Court clerks continue to coordinate the hearing once it begins. They open the court session by calling out the name of the case and asking the lawyers to present themselves to the court. Court clerks also keep track of who is speaking and in what order.
Another important aspect of a court clerk’s job is looking after evidence or documents that lawyers want to give to a judge. The court clerk makes a list of each piece of evidence before passing it to the judge during a hearing. During a hearing, the court clerk is the person who gets to call witnesses to the front of the courtroom and ask them to tell “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”.
Since hearings can be complicated, the court clerk takes notes on important issues so that the judge can concentrate on what the lawyers are saying.
Closing Case Files
Where do court clerks work?
At the end of the hearing, the court clerk has the responsibility for making sure a case is closed. When everyone has left the courtroom, he takes the case files back to his office.
A court clerk then helps the judge by formatting the final written judgment. It’s also his responsibility to put the completed file in the correct storage room.
A court clerk then helps the judge by formatting the final written judgment. It’s also his responsibility to put the completed file in the correct storage room.
As you may have guessed, court clerks work in courthouses. All across Quebec, in small towns and big cities, courthouses need court clerks to keep things running smoothly.
Training
There is no specific training for becoming a court clerk. A diploma (a DEC) in paralegal technology (techniques juridique in French) can be helpful in pursuing this career.
O’Sullivan College of Montréal offers this program in English. More detailed information on this speciality is available on the Inforoute FPT website.
Eight CÉGEPS offer this program in French. A list of professional training centres and other institutions that offer this specialty in French is available on the Inforoute FPT website.
Court clerks must take special on-the-job training provided by their employers to acquire the knowledge and skills they need.
To learn more about job prospects (salary, rate of growth of the profession, etc.) of court clerks, visit the Job Futures website.
Useful High School Courses
The following courses could help you prepare for a future as a court clerk:
Speak to your guidance counsellor to see if there are other courses offered at your school that could prepare for this career.
O’Sullivan College of Montréal offers this program in English. More detailed information on this speciality is available on the Inforoute FPT website.
Eight CÉGEPS offer this program in French. A list of professional training centres and other institutions that offer this specialty in French is available on the Inforoute FPT website.
Court clerks must take special on-the-job training provided by their employers to acquire the knowledge and skills they need.
To learn more about job prospects (salary, rate of growth of the profession, etc.) of court clerks, visit the Job Futures website.
Useful High School Courses
The following courses could help you prepare for a future as a court clerk:
- History and Citizenship Education
- English Language Arts
- French as a Second Language
Speak to your guidance counsellor to see if there are other courses offered at your school that could prepare for this career.
Are you right for the job?
Thinking of becoming a court clerk? Check out this list of skills and learn how to develop them.
Respect for the Rules
Clerks must follow all the courtroom rules. Their interactions with judges, lawyers, witnesses, parties, and all others who come to the court must be respectful and polite.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You always arrive on time for appointments and classes.
- You respect the rules when you are playing a game and don’t cheat.
- You are disciplined when it’s time to study and you don’t waste time.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Register for an activity that requires you to be disciplined and follow certain rules, such as a sports team.
- Always read and understand the directions your teachers give you before starting your work.
- Find a recipe for your favourite food and follow the directions for making it.
Attention to Detail
You can’t fool around when it comes to the law! As part of their administrative tasks, court clerks write legal documents that are highly important to those involved in a case. They must be able to do their work with precision and rigour.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You pay attention to details and are good at tasks that require precision, like playing Jenga or Tetris.
- People don’t hesitate to ask you to do work for them because they know that you will do a good job.
- When you watch a movie, you notice things others do not.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Play memory games and do jigsaw puzzles.
- Always proofread and revise your assignments and exams before handing them in.
- Be the person who does the final read of group project presentations to make sure there are no mistakes.
Organization and Coordination
Court clerks handle many documents and case files. They have to be well organized since court files are very important. To lose one or mix them up could be disastrous.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You use an agenda and a calendar.
- Your school notes are clear and well organized.
- You like when things are put in the right place.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Learn to establish and follow schedules for your studies and homework.
- Help coordinate a school play, school club or upcoming social event. Be responsible for making lists, establishing priorities and getting everything done on time.
- Embark on a big clean up of your bedroom and desk and find a system for arranging your things that makes the best use of them.
Written Communication
Court clerks produce important legal documents. For example, they have to write detailed accounts of everything that takes place in the courtroom. A court clerk’s writing must be impeccable.You have what you need to succeed if:
- You enjoy preparing letters.
- You are able to spot typos and enjoy proofreading others people's work.
- You receive good marks in your French, English or literature classes.
To develop these skills, you can:
- Write articles for your school newspaper.
- Proofread and revise group work or your friend’s homework.
- Read books in English and French.
Did you know?
- Court clerks are the ones who ask a witness to take an oath by saying “do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
- The court clerk is the official assistant to the judge.
- During a hearing, all evidence and documents are first passed to the court clerk, who then passes them to the judge.