How to Become a Court Clerk

How to become a Court Clerk

The Basics of Becoming a Court Clerk

Are you investigating how to become a Court Clerk? The main duties are to obtain information for the courts by preparing doing such things as drafting agendas or bylaws, keeping fiscal records, issuing permits and licenses, and preparing docket cases.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many Court Clerks have only a high school diploma. However, some employers may prefer to hire clerks with some college education or an associate degree. Courses in social or behavioral sciences may be useful.

A Court Clerk's Salary Potential

  • Lowest 10th%
    $25,990
  • Median
    $39,380
  • Highest 90th%
    $61,100

 

States with the Highest Employment Levels

STATES2019 ANNUAL MEAN WAGENUMBER OF JOBS
Texas$37,90012,520
California$51,52012,220
Ohio$38,7009,920
Florida$40,4508,800
New York$58,6907,480
 
 

How Do Your Skills Stack Up?

day to day life of a Court Clerk

As reported by O*NET, these traits are ranked as either extremely or very important to the day to day life of a Court Clerk. 

What You Will Learn With an AAS in Legal Support Services Degree

Course work for an associate of applied science in legal support services typically covers classes such as:

  • Legal Research and Writing
  • Civil Litigation
  • Legal Ethics
  • Torts
  • Managing Technology

Associate of applied science in legal support services degrees may include basic courses that provide foundational knowledge of the law, as well as practical and technical skills that are required for many different types of legal support positions. Courses often cover competencies such as, analyzing data to assist clients; communicating with stakeholders; identifying and gathering information; drafting and organizing information for litigation; and preparing documents for legal proceedings. These programs can help prepare students to pursue legal support services roles with corporate legal departments, court and judicial systems, legal firms or contract-driven industries like real estate.

FAQs About How to Become a Court Clerk

What Skills do Court Clerks Possess?

Court Clerks are usually proficient in areas such as coordination, time management, reading comprehension and social perceptiveness – being aware of others reactions and understanding that reaction.

How many court clerks are employed in the U.S.?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 154,020 court, municipal, and license clerks held jobs in the U.S. as of May 2019. Those court clerks earned a median annual salary of $39,380. The majority of court clerks are employed in local and state government and other support services. O*NET predicts that employment for  court clerks will grow by 4 to 6 percent between 2018 and 2028. 

What are some professional organizations for court clerks?

The Federal Court Clerks Association (FCCA) is a federal professional organization for court clerks. It promotes the professionalism and integrity of court clerks and dedicates itself to increasing the proficiency of court employees through multiple types of programming. The National Conference of Appellate Court Clerks is a state and federal organization that helps court professionals improve their skills and knowledge, contribute to effective court administration, and maintain and improve facilities’ operations in the offices of appellate court clerks.vi The National Association of County Recorders, Election Officials and Clerks is an organization for appointed and elected court administrative officials. It provides professional training and leadership development through educational programs, technology, monitoring legislation, and promoting communication amongst members.viiThe International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers is an organization that promotes a free exchange of information in an effort to improve standards for the public and establish a unified voice that advocates for its members.viii These are just some of the many national and international professional organizations for court clerks.

Court clerks might also consider joining a state-wide professional organization in their area.

What are common types of software used?

Court Clerks use typical office software such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, but may also use specialized software such as query software, including Abili CORIS Offender Management System or IBM Judicial Enforcement Management System JEMS. It is also likely that a Court Clerk would use Thomson Reuters Westlaw.

What types of personalities are typically found as a Court Clerk?

For purposes of this answer, we are going to reference Carl Jung's 16 personality types as described by PersonalityMax.com. It is very likely that many Court Clerks would fall into the ISTJ (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging) personality type, a good fit for becoming a Court, Municipal, or License Clerk. ISTJs are hard-working, perceptive, and dependable. They take their responsibilities very seriously and are very good at concentrating. ISTJs are very precise and organized.
 

Job information sourced from O*NET

© 2003 - 2024 EarnMyDegree.com
All rights Reserved

The sources for school statistics and data is the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System unless otherwise noted. 

Disclosure: EducationDynamics receives compensation for the featured schools on our websites (see “Sponsored Schools” or “Sponsored Listings” or “Sponsored Results”). So what does this mean for you? Compensation may impact where the Sponsored Schools appear on our websites, including whether they appear as a match through our education matching services tool, the order in which they appear in a listing, and/or their ranking. Our websites do not provide, nor are they intended to provide, a comprehensive list of all schools (a) in the United States (b) located in a specific geographic area or (c) that offer a particular program of study. By providing information or agreeing to be contacted by a Sponsored School, you are in no way obligated to apply to or enroll with the school.

This is an offer for educational opportunities, not an offer for nor a guarantee of employment. Students should consult with a representative from the school they select to learn more about career opportunities in that field. Program outcomes vary according to each institution’s specific program curriculum. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify. The information on this page is for informational and research purposes only and is not an assurance of financial aid.