Essential Information
Most court clerk training programs are offered at the state level. Program content varies from location to location, but generally addresses a mix of civil and criminal court procedures and common office duties. Training programs typically last from 1-2 weeks.
People who complete court clerk training are qualified to work as court clerks in the legal system at the municipal, county, state or federal level. Alternative titles for court clerks might include deputy clerk, judicial assistant, case manager or court specialist.
Training Programs for Court Clerk
Training programs for court clerks usually require a high school diploma or GED for admission. High school-level courses in business, computers, communications, math, government and social studies are often preferred. Because they are so brief, training programs are structured as a single class covering multiple topics. Topics covered in a program may include:
- Criminal court procedures
- Civil court procedures
- Probate procedures
- Filing and record keeping
- Report writing
Employment Outlook and Salary Info
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of court, municipal and license clerks was projected to grow 5% from 2019-2029. The BLS listed the median annual salary for court, municipal and license clerks at $40,930 in May 2020 (www.bls.gov).
Continuing Education Information
Court systems have differing continuing education requirements for court personnel. Some systems require court clerks to complete a refresher course every year that will result in a specified amount of credit hours. Programs are generally designed to refresh a clerk's skills in areas such as tax collection, records maintenance and compiling accurate court records.
Individuals looking for a career as a court clerk can complete a court clerk training program, which qualifies them to work in the legal system all the way up to the federal level. Students receive instruction in civil and criminal court procedures, filing, record keeping and more.
