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.
