Court Clerk Training Covers Range of Topics
With a range of cases being presented throughout the day, it is vital that a courtroom runs like clockwork. Assisting in this are those who have received court clerk training and serve as court monitors or court clerks. But what is the difference between these two vital jobs?
A court clerk is responsible for duties that include: swearing in jury members, interpreters, witnesses and defendants; preparing dockets or calendars of cases to be called; preparing documents recording the outcomes of court proceedings; recording case dispositions, court orders, and arrangements made for payment of court fees; instructing parties about timing of court appearances; explaining procedures or forms to parties in cases or to the general public; and more. On the other hand, a court monitor must: record verbatim proceedings of courts, legislative assemblies, committee meetings, and other proceedings, using computerized recording equipment, electronic stenograph machines, or steno masks; transcribe recorded proceedings in accordance with established formats; ask speakers to clarify inaudible statements; provide transcripts of proceedings upon request of judges, lawyers, or the public; and respond to requests during court sessions to read portions of the proceedings already recorded.
At Centennial College’s municipal court training, officially known as Court Support Services, students obtain the know-how needed to fill both of these positions within The Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario Court of Justice, Ontario Superior Court of Justice), Municipal courts, tribunals and boards, official examiners, and court reporting services.
Municipal court training is achieved through a two-semester undertaking that is designed on the recommendation of the Ministry of the Attorney General, which will essentially introduce students to the procedural rules, family law and criminal law, court reporting and transcribing, ethics and professional conduct, word processing applications and more. These topics are presented in small-sized classes with newly upgraded computer labs as well as through practical, career-oriented assignments.
Giving students of this municipal court training an advantage over those who may have attended programs at other post-secondary schools is the fact that it offers a practicum portion, use of an assimilated courtroom within Centennial College as well as numerous trips to the various courtrooms and tribunals in order for students to see first-hand exactly what their role will be within the courtroom setting.
Municipal court training applicants are required to possess at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Academic requirements include compulsory English 12 or U, or skills assessment, or equivalent. Applicants must demonstrate an acceptable level of English language proficiency in order to be considered for admission. It is also worth noting that to graduate from the Court Support Services program, students are required to attain a minimum C grade average and an overall minimum GPA of 2.0 for graduation.