Legal Professions as Court Staff

Besides the obvious personnel you see buzzing around the courtroom-the lawyers and their staff and the judges- there are other key personnel who keep a courtroom running smoothly. Among these are court clerks, court reporters, and bailiffs.

Clerks of the Court


Court clerks administer the day-to-day dealings in courts of law. They oversee a staff of legal and administrative personnel who perform a variety of duties, such as preparing dockets of cases to be called; securing information for judges; and contacting witnesses, attorneys, and litigants to obtain information for court. Depending on the state and the level of the court, some clerks of the court may be elected; others may be appointed.

Training for Clerks of the Court

Although being an attorney is not a requirement for a clerk of the court position, more and more judges are preferring to work with experienced clerks who have more than administrative skills. The trend is for attorneys to be offered the position above other applicants.

Job Outlook for Clerks of the Court

As more and more courts are established to handle the increase in cases, more positions for clerks of the court will be opening. However, competition is keen and will continue to be so. Openings will occur primarily to replace existing workers who retire.

Court Reporters

Written accounts of spoken words are necessary for records and legal proof. These verbatim reports of legal proceedings or other events are taken by court reporters.

Court reporters record all statements made in an official proceeding, often using stenotype machines. They take down all statements at speeds of approximately two hundred words per minute and present their records as the official transcripts. Because there is only one person creating an official transcript, accuracy is vitally important.

Many reporters do freelance work recording out-of-court depositions for attorneys, proceedings of meetings and conventions, and other private activities. Still others record the proceedings in the U.S. Congress, in state and local governing bodies, and in government agencies at all levels.

Some reporters still dictate notes on magnetic tapes that a typist can later transcribe. Others transcribe their own notes or give them to note readers, persons skilled in reading back shorthand notes.

Most commonly, reporters use stenotype machines that print shorthand symbols on paper and record them on computer disks. The disks are then loaded into a computer that translates and displays the symbols in English. This is called computer-aided transcription. Stenotype machines that link directly to the computer are used for real-time captioning. That is, as the reporter types the symbols, they are instantly transcribed by the computer. This is used for closed captioning for the deaf or hearing-impaired on television, in courts, or in meetings. Court reporters, who specialize in captioning television news stories, may be called stenocaptioners.

Court reporters can work a standard forty-hour week. Many court reporters, however, are self-employed and freelance their services, which may result in irregular hours. Others work part-time or as temporaries.

Although the work is not physically demanding, sitting in the same position for long periods can be tiring. In addition, pressure to be accurate and fast can be stressful.

Other court reporters worked for colleges and universities, secretarial and court reporting services, temporary help supply services, and law firms.

Job Outlook for Court Reporters

Employment of court reporters is expected to decline. Budget constraints should limit the ability of federal, state, and local courts to expand, even in the face of rising numbers of criminal court cases and civil lawsuits. Despite the decline, job openings will arise each year due to the need to replace workers who leave the occupation.

Demand should grow, however, for court reporters willing to take depositions for court reporting service bureaus or as independent freelancers. Another factor stimulating demand is the growing number of conventions, conferences, seminars, and similar meetings whose proceedings are recorded. Although many of these events are being videotaped, a written transcript must still be created for legal purposes or if the proceedings are to be published. The trend to provide instantaneous written captions for the deaf and hearing impaired also should strengthen demand for stenocaptioners.

Competition for entry-level jobs as a court reporter is increasing as more workers are attracted to the occupation. Opportunities should be best for those who earn certification by the National Court Reporters Association.

Salaries for Court Reporters

Court reporters generally earn higher salaries than stenographic office workers. Regardless of specialty, earnings depend on speed, education, experience, and geographic location (earnings are generally higher in large cities than in rural areas).

Bailiffs

Bailiffs are responsible for keeping order in the courtroom. They are also responsible for taking custody of the prisoners who are on trial and escorting them to and from holding cells.

Depending on the judge or the court system in which the bailiff works, he or she may have additional duties, including administrative tasks such as preparing the docket for the next day's cases, serving writs and subpoenas, and handling evictions or repossessions.

Training for Bailiffs

Qualifications expected for bailiffs will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but they are usually the same as for police officers. Candidates must have at least a high school education, a valid driver's license, and no criminal background.

Training often occurs on the job or in adjunct courses through the police academy. The training periods will also vary but can take from six months to a year.