What do court clerks do?  

A court clerk helps keep the court working smoothly by supporting the daily work of the court, such as collecting fees and answering phone calls. Court clerks also help with scheduling and keeping court records. If you have a question about how the court works, a court clerk can help you find answers. 

What does a typical day look like in this job? 

Court clerks have many different responsibilities, and these can change depending on what day it is and what part of the court they are working in. If a trial is happening, a court clerk may help with scheduling, process court documents like subpoenas, and talk to witnesses and juries about oaths. Court clerks also help prepare cases and maintain court records. 

Other times, a court clerk might answer phone calls or give information to people that the court serves. Court clerks cannot give legal advice, but they can help people find out about court procedures, provide resources to help them find lawyers, and help people find the court calendar. 

What skills or abilities are important for this job? 

Court clerks need to be very good at communicating with different kinds of people, like judges, lawyers, and community members. Court clerks need to be able to work on a computer so that they can type letters and notices, manage cases, and enter information. Court clerks should also be very organized because they work with a lot of important documents that need to be kept safe. 

It is important for court clerks to understand court rules and how the court works. Court clerks often answer questions about the court, so they need to know the rules to answer questions correctly. They also need to know what questions they are allowed to answer. 

What kind of education, certification, or training is required? 

Different courts in Arizona have different requirements for education and certification needed to become a court clerk. Though requirements are not universal, most courts require a high school diploma and some clerical or customer service experience. Certain college degrees, like a degree in Justice Studies, can help people get ready to become a court clerk. While it is possible to become a court clerk right after college, most courts want people to get some kind of work experience, in customer service, accounting, or clerical work before they become court clerks. 

There are also certifications that can help people become court clerks. Many organizations have certifications that help prepare people for the challenges of being a court clerk. Certifications can be helpful, but many of the courts in Arizona do not require any certifications to become a court clerk. 

What is the most challenging part about this job? 

One of the most challenging parts of being a court clerk is managing many different tasks. Court clerks have many responsibilities across many different areas, and each task requires attention to detail. Many of these tasks also have strict deadlines. Court clerks have to learn to prioritize the tasks that are most important and urgent while still making sure that less important tasks are still completed on time. 

What is the average salary in Arizona? 

Visit the ZipRecruiters Courtroom Clerk Salaries page to learn more about salaries in Arizona.