Court, Municipal, and License Clerks Occupation Detailed Description

Court, Municipal, and License Clerks career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Court, Municipal, and License Clerks

The main tasks and work activities of Court, Municipal, and License Clerks are to record information about legal matters, explain regulations, policies, or procedures, prepare legal documents, interview employees, customers, or others to collect information. In general, for the Court, Municipal, and License Clerks, active Listening, speaking, writing, reading Comprehension and other 10 skills are required.
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Court, Municipal, and License Clerks jobs. 55.08% of Court, Municipal, and License Clerks have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 9.55% of Court, Municipal, and License Clerks have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
7.11%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
55.08%
Post-Secondary Certificate
9.55%
Some College Courses
15.17%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.74%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
12.35%

Tasks and Work Activities of Court, Municipal, and License Clerks

  • Prepare dockets or calendars of cases to be called, using typewriters or computers.
  • Record case dispositions, court orders, or arrangements made for payment of court fees.
  • Answer inquiries from the general public regarding judicial procedures, court appearances, trial dates, adjournments, outstanding warrants, summonses, subpoenas, witness fees, or payment of fines.
  • Prepare and issue orders of the court, such as probation orders, release documentation, sentencing information, or summonses.
  • Prepare documents recording the outcomes of court proceedings.
  • Instruct parties about timing of court appearances.
  • Explain procedures or forms to parties in cases or to the general public.
  • Search files and contact witnesses, attorneys, or litigants to obtain information for the court.
  • Follow procedures to secure courtrooms or exhibits, such as money, drugs, or weapons.
  • Amend indictments when necessary and endorse indictments with pertinent information.
  • Read charges and related information to the court and, if necessary, record defendants' pleas.
  • Swear in jury members, interpreters, witnesses, or defendants.
  • Collect court fees or fines and record amounts collected.
  • Direct support staff in handling of paperwork processed by clerks' offices.
  • Prepare and mark applicable court exhibits or evidence.
  • Examine legal documents submitted to courts for adherence to laws or court procedures.
  • Record court proceedings, using recording equipment, or record minutes of court proceedings, using stenotype machines or shorthand.
  • Prepare courtrooms with paper, pens, water, easels, or electronic equipment and ensure that recording equipment is working.
  • Conduct roll calls and poll jurors.
  • Open courts, calling them to order, and announcing judges.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Performing Administrative ActivitiesPerforming day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Record information about legal matters.
  • Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
  • Prepare legal documents.
  • Interview employees, customers, or others to collect information.
  • Search files, databases or reference materials to obtain needed information.
  • Maintain security.
  • Collect deposits, payments or fees.
  • Supervise clerical or administrative personnel.
  • Attach identification information to products, items or containers.
  • Examine documents to verify adherence to requirements.
  • Record information from meetings or other formal proceedings.
  • Stock supplies or merchandise.
  • Confer with coworkers to coordinate work activities.
  • Coordinate operational activities.
  • Distribute materials to employees or customers.
  • Manage clerical or administrative activities.
  • Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
  • Prepare informational or reference materials.
  • Analyze financial information.
  • Issue documentation or identification to customers or employees.

Skills and Abilities for Court, Municipal, and License Clerks

  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Conversation recording unitse.g. Audio recording equipment
  • Scannerse.g. Computer data input scanners
  • Inkjet printerse.g. Computer inkjet printers
  • Photocopierse.g. Copy machines
  • Desktop calculatore.g. Desktop calculators
  • Typewriterse.g. Electric typewriters
  • Laser fax machinee.g. Laser facsimile machines
  • Microfiche or microfilm viewerse.g. Microfilm viewing equipment
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Printer calculatore.g. Printing calculators
  • Stenotype machinese.g. Steno writers
  • Electronic voting or vote-counting equipmente.g. Ballot marking devices
  • Electronic voting or vote-counting equipmente.g. Ballot marking systems
  • Laser printerse.g. Computer laser printers
  • Photocopierse.g. Copy machines
  • Dictation machinese.g. Dictating equipment
  • Digital voice recorderse.g. Digital audio recorders
  • Scannerse.g. Digital data input scanners
  • Paper shredding machines or accessoriese.g. Document shredders
  • Typewriterse.g. Electric typewriters
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Economics and AccountingKnowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Personnel and Human ResourcesKnowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Law and GovernmentKnowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.