Section 3: Procedures, Issues, and Careers
Potential Careers
Lawyers and paralegals, along with judges, are the sorts of
professionals that most people think of when considering law careers,
but there are many other types of jobs available to people interested in
the law. For example, there are the people who keep the court system
running.
What follows is a brief overview of a few of the positions that help
in the smooth running of the court system. Some of them you've already
encountered, others will be new.
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The
clerk of the court,
often called the administrator, is responsible for the
administration, of the courts and court related services in Alberta. The
administrator is in charge of a large staff of clerical people, court
reporters, judicial clerks, and other court officials who assist in
carrying out the duties of this office.
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The
judicial
or
court clerks
are officers of the court who assist the administrator in the
administration of the courts. Their duties vary according to the level
of court in which they function. Generally, they have some clerical
duties, some administrative tasks, and some courtroom duties. In the
courtroom they call the court to order, swear in witnesses, record the
judge's findings, assist the presiding judge if required, and so on.
The other court duties of the judicial clerks are quite varied. Their duties include the examination of documents related to court proceedings before they're filed with the court. For example, in the office of the Provincial Court, Civil Division the judicial clerk will look over, and even help to correct, civil claims before they can be filed. The clerk is also responsible for correctly numbering, dating, and filing the documents that become part of the court record. There is a fee for filing documents with the court and the clerk is responsible for collecting these fees. The clerk also receives payments from claims and judgments. In general, judicial clerks assist the public by providing information related to any court proceedings in which the individuals are involved.
Office duties of the judicial clerk include typing, filing, preparing files for court sittings, answering telephone inquiries, and compiling court-related statistics.
- Court reporters
are officers of the court. They're present in the courtroom during
trials to make a word-for-word record (transcript) of the proceedings.
There's also a tape recording made of the proceedings to ensure
accuracy.
Court reporters also record the proceedings at the pretrial hearing, the examination of discovery. As well, they may be required to record other proceedings before a court or a judge and any oral examinations under oath.
Although the general public has little, if any, contact with court reporters, they're very much in evidence at any court proceeding. As you've seen, court reporters sit in front of the judge's bench next to the judicial clerk.
The court administrator is also the sheriff, but in practice most of the sheriff's responsibilities are carried out by the assistant sheriff or deputy sheriff and supporting officers. The major responsibilities of the sheriff include:
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Seizing goods and monies
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Keeping safe custody of anything seized
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Controlling the development and attendance of juries
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Supervising the distribution of monies paid into court
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Authorizing the sale of seized goods
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Ensuring the protection of creditors' and debtors' rights
In addition to these functions, the sheriff also has certain administrative duties associated with the court proceedings.
- The bailiffs , or sheriff's officers, are responsible for assisting the sheriff. These officers personally serve documents according to the requirements of the Rules of Court of Alberta and other legislation specifically related to any matter at hand. For example, a sheriff's officer is often called upon to personally serve a statement of claim on the defendant.
Seizing goods as directed by the assistant sheriff is also a major responsibility of a bailiff. For example, when someone has defaulted on car payments, the creditor can enlist the assistance of the sheriff's office to repossess the vehicle.
Another major function of a bailiff is related to jury trials. The jury's security is the responsibility of the sheriff, so the sheriff's officers are called upon to attend to and guard the jury.
