How To Become A Court Clerk
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Combine your Administrative Skills with the Excitement of a Courtroom Environment, as a Court Clerk
If you have strong clerical skills, a good command of the English language, extensive computer knowledge and strong interpersonal skills, you could start a career in the fast paced environment of a courtroom as a court clerk. There are a variety of duties you'd be responsible for, and although yuo would be performing many of the tasks of any standard business, your work setting would add to the appeal and excitement of the job. There are opportunities at the local, state and federal level, and according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, average salaries are around $27,500 a year, but there are many chances to move up and be granted higher positions as legal aides or even lawyers. The amount of education for specific criminal justice careers is always a factor, but in general, until 2014, the outlook for new positions is good and opportunities are readily available for all levels.
Role of this Position
There are a variety of tasks that a court clerk is responsible for, and it is largely related to the level of the court you are working for, but in general all administrative duties are handled by the clerk. They will swear in all witnesses and the jury, take the minutes of the court session and transcribe them and prepare the schedule of the cases to be judged. They are also in charge of reviewing legal documents, and in some cases, they may process passports or swear in new citizens. From doing roll calls to supplying the courtroom with pens, paper and all the essential materials, a court clerk has an array of tasks to take care of.
Necessary Education
As diverse as the roles are of a court clerk, so are the educational requirements, because each office may request something different. In many cases simply having a high school diploma is sufficient, but additionally offices may demand a minimum of 2 years in university or business school. A bachelors degree or criminal justice degree is also becoming a popular requirement, but in many federal courts, a masters degree or even a law degree is the minimum level accepted. In general, there are specific skills you must master to work in this field, including word processing, accounting, budgeting, business and bookkeeping. A court clerk must be able to multi-task, possess a diverse range of talents and skills and be meticulous to ensure everything gets processed in an organized and timely fashion.
Criminal Justice Degree |
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