Clerks of court make sure that hearings in the Scottish courts run smoothly.
They prepare the courtroom beforehand, making sure that all the materials are ready. They meet the participants – the accused, lawyers, witnesses and jurors – and see that they are in the right place at the right time and know what they are supposed to do.
The Work
You could be:
making sure that everything is ready for the judge or sheriff – for example, paperwork, wig and gown – and remaining in court throughout the session to ensure that everything runs smoothly
checking that everyone involved – jurors, lawyers, defendants and witnesses – are present, and dealing with any problems that arise
introducing the sheriff or judge (in the supreme courts, carrying in the mace, a symbol of the court’s authority) and starting the hearing or trial formally
responsible for swearing in the jurors, calling the accused and witnesses to court and administering the oath (their promise to tell the truth) to them before they give evidence
labelling items of evidence and passing them to the judge and jury, and also passing messages between the court clerk and the lawyers
responsible for security and discipline in the public areas around the court
looking after jurors as they discuss their verdict, ensuring their safety and privacy and sometimes arranging overnight accommodation for them
processing jurors' expenses and maintaining the bank account
managing a team of administration staff.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of the organisation you work for
the demand for the job.
The salary for a clerk of court working for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service is based on the Civil Service Executive Officer (EO) scale. Currently (2022-2023) this is £25,931 rising to £31,972 with experience/promotion.
Conditions
You usually work normal hours Monday to Friday in an office or in court.
There might be some paid overtime in the early morning or evening.
Part time work is possible.
You might have to travel between courts.
You might have to spend occasional nights away from home.
In Scotland all clerks of court are civil servants.
There are strict nationality and residency requirements.
There are no formal entry qualifications, but applicants must pass a suitability test.
You may get into a junior position through a Modern Apprenticeship in Court and Tribunal Operations at SCQF Levels 5 and 6.
The SCTS sometimes run recruitment drives to employ direct entrants, which involves 6 months intense training. See their recruitment page for details.
You must be over 16 in Scotland – most entrants are a lot older.
A background involving dealing with the public and difficult situations such as in the police or armed forces is useful.
A driving licence is useful.
You will require a satisfactory criminal record check from Disclosure Scotland to show that you are suitable for this type of work. Contact Disclosure Scotland for details on the type you would need.
a clear speaking voice, capable of being heard throughout the courtroom
excellent written and spoken communication skills
respect for confidentiality
good organisational skills
good judgement
digital skills
numeracy skills for handling money.
You need to be able to:
handle difficult situations and maintain order
calm and reassure witnesses
prioritise your workload and work to deadlines.
Training
Training is mainly on the job and will cover court procedure, court behaviour and the roles and responsibilities of the various participants in the legal process.
You can also do short specialist courses on, for example, security issues.
After achieving SVQ Court Operations at SCQF Level 5 or 6, you can progress to SVQ Managing Courts at SCQF Level 9.
Getting On
You could become a court support manager, supervising a team of officers.
More Information
In English and Welsh courts the name of this job is court usher.
