Court clerks and related court services occupations
Also called: Court clerk, Court liaison, Court officer, Judicial clerk, Courtroom clerk, Court supervisor, Court clerk-crier, Prosecution clerk, Youth court clerk, County court clerk, Court administrator, Supreme court clerk
Court clerks and workers in related court services occupations perform administrative, security, and other support functions for courts of law such as scheduling trials, processing service fees, calling court to order, preparing court dockets and maintaining exhibits, recording trial proceedings and maintaining court records. They also facilitate court security and public safety, liaise with law enforcement organizations, and provide support to the judiciary. They are employed by federal, provincial, territorial and municipal courts and by police forces.
Main tasks
- Court clerks
- Call courts of law to order, read charges, take pleas from defendants, swear in witnesses and perform other clerical functions in the courtrooms
- Prepare court files, court dockets and other documents
- Record main court proceedings, including pleas, names of witnesses, dates, times and rulings
- Manage care and custody of court exhibits
- Prepare documents for and participate in jury selection
- Update and maintain court office paper and electronic indexes and files on actions taken by court or in response to court decisions
- Receive, disburse and account for fines, fees and trust monies
How to become one
Completion of secondary school is required. On-the-job training is provided for court officers, court clerks, and court liaison officers. Special Constable Certification may be required for court officers and court liaison officers. Court clerks and court officers may require a 1-2 year post-secondary diploma in office administration or equivalent. Court administrators usually require a 1-2 year post-secondary diploma, or may require a university degree in law, business administration, judicial administration, or related field. Some experience as a court clerks may be required for court administrators. Experience in clerical services, administration and management, and personnel information systems may be required for court administrators.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $58,130 a year The middle half earn $51,675 to $64,350.
- About 8,500 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 9,700 are projected by 2033. (+14.1%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03