Becoming a Court Clerk in Canada
Posted by Jason White on Monday, March 24, 2014
Under: College Education
The court clerks are trained officials who serve justices and attorneys,
and perform a variety of tasks right from doing research on a case to
preparing arguments in favour of or against it, attending hearings and
preparing transcripts that serve as official records.
This is just one aspect of their job profile. The other aspect includes
communicating with the parties involved in a case, and providing them
with the required information whenever they need and explaining them
various court procedures. They also answer their questions and resolve
their queries regarding fines, court summons, trial dates, court
appearances, outstanding warrants, and sentence and release documents.
The court clerks are also responsible for reviewing the law suits to
ensure their accuracy and authenticity. They also examine the documents
submitted to the court before, after or during case proceedings.
Employment Opportunities
Every year court clerks are hired by The Ministry of the Attorney
General (Ontario Court of Justice, Ontario Superior Court of Justice),
municipal courts, boards and tribunals, regional courts, court reporting
services, official examiners and judges and attorneys to help review
applications, research the cases and write their judicial opinions.
The courts, these days, regardless of the level they operate at, are
facing a problem of back log. The increasing number of pending court
cases has led to the increased need for professionals who can assist
judges, attorneys and court personnel in expediting the process of
delivering justice to the citizens.
The employment prospects are bright in this field. Despite this, getting
a decent paying job remains a challenge. However, a formal court clerk
training in Toronto can enhance the chances of seeking a good job and
building a rewarding career in legal and professional environments. For
more advanced career opportunities, the individuals may have to undergo
higher education after gaining substantial experience working in courts
and other professional settings.
But to enter the world of work, a post-secondary diploma in court
support services is the minimum requirement. And hands-on-skills
training further increases the likelihood of getting a decent paying
job.
Court Support Services Programs in Toronto
Many colleges in Toronto offer post-secondary court support services
programs in Toronto. However, prospective applicants are recommended to
make a thorough research before enrolling into a course. This is because
not all colleges provide them with the legal and practical hands-on
learning in stimulated courtroom settings.
Centennial College's one-year program in court support services combines classroom learning and municipal court training
in Toronto through attendances in the family, criminal, small claims
and municipal court settings, attendances at various tribunal hearings
and practical, career-oriented assignments. The program prepares
students for the roles of court clerks, court monitors or court
reporters.
The two-semester program lays emphasis on current issues in Canadian
law, ethics and professional conduct, court monitoring and working on
word processing applications. The program is taught by experienced
faculty members who work within the court systems.
Admission Requirements
Interested students can send their applications online, by mail or in
person along with application fee. They also need to submit their
secondary school diploma certificate or equivalent, and scores of
English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent. Students who do not meet
this criterion will need to take English skills assessment by the
college.
In : College Education
Tags: court clerk training municipal court training