Court Officers and Justices of the Peace
(NOC 1227)
in All Business, Finance, and AdministrationCourt officers coordinate the administrative and procedural functions of federal and provincial courts like scheduling trials and overseeing the maintenance of court records. Justices of the peace administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summonses and warrants and perform other court-related duties like conducting bail hearings and performing civil marriages. They work for federal and provincial courts.
Job Outlook
Undetermined
Read more
Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration
Hourly Pay
$23.59
Minimum$27.00
Median$43.96
MaximumAnnual Pay
$33,609
Minimum$53,206
Median$93,686
MaximumCompared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration
Hourly Pay
$15.00
Minimum$23.00
Median$38.50
MaximumAnnual Pay
$6,754
Minimum$36,515
Median$70,271
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Court officers coordinate the administrative and procedural functions of federal and provincial courts like scheduling trials and overseeing the maintenance of court records. Justices of the peace administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summonses and warrants and perform other court-related duties like conducting bail hearings and performing civil marriages. They work for federal and provincial courts.
Job duties
Court officers:
- Coordinate administrative services and establish work priorities for court staff.
- Schedule court trials and arrange pre-trial conferences and hearings.
- Call courts to order, read charges and take pleas from defendants.
- Record court start time, trial proceedings and judgements.
- Collect and record sheriff fees, transcription fees and other court administrative and services fees.
- Oversee the maintenance of judicial court records.
- Help in preparing annual budgets.
- May be justices of the peace.
Justices of the peace:
- Issue subpoenas, summonses and warrants, including search warrants.
- Receive affidavits, declarations and affirmations.
- Administer oaths.
- Conduct bail hearings.
- Release defendants on judges' orders and explain rights and obligations.
- Hear evidence at trials on summary conviction offences and may preside over trials of criminal offences at the discretion of the chief judge of the jurisdiction or as provided for in federal, provincial or territorial statutes.
- Perform civil marriages.
Sample job titles
- citizenship judge
- clerk of the court
- courtroom officer
- district court registrar
- family court administrator
- justice of the peace
- registrar of deeds
- small claims court registrar
- trial coordinator
Skills
- Good observational and analytical skills are necessary. You must be accurate and able to pay close attention to detail. Honesty and integrity are important. You also need good communication skills and an ability to work well with others.
Job requirements
- A university degree in law, business or public administration or a college diploma in public administration or legal studies.
- A justice registrar, justice of the peace or other court training program is required for court officers and justices of the peace.
- Justices of the peace in the provinces are appointed by the lieutenant governor in council and, in the territories, by federally appointed territorial commissioners.
Other considerations
- There are no significant seasonal patterns of unemployment in these jobs and people tend to work for the full year. Several years of experience as a court clerk or in another court service occupation are usually required. The duties and responsibilities of justices of the peace vary significantly depending on the level of their authority. They work part-time on a fee-for-service basis in small communities. Movement to senior positions like senior court administrator is possible through experience.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
$52,433 median annual incomeNorth Shore
$53,609 median annual incomeSouthern
N/ACape Breton
N/AAnnapolis Valley
N/ACompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Public administration
Professional, scientific and technical services
Finance and insurance
What is the age of Employment?
45-54
55-64
25-34
35-44
65+
Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration
45-54
55-64
35-44
25-34
65+
Top levels of education
Bachelor
$53,669 median annual incomeCollege Diploma
$48,422 median annual incomeDiploma Below Bachelor
N/AMaster
N/ALess than high school
N/ACompared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration
College Diploma
$36,304 median annual incomeHigh school
$32,903 median annual incomeBachelor
$41,755 median annual incomeTrade Certification
$34,807 median annual incomeLess than high school
$23,174 median annual incomeEducation & training
Business Administration and Management
College, Trades, or University ProgramThese programs prepare students to plan, organize, direct, and control the functions and processes of a firm or organization. They include courses in management theory, human resources management and behaviour, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.
Institutions providing this program
Lower Sackville, NS
Halifax, NS
Wolfville, NS
Sydney, NS
Truro, NS
Various, NS
Business/Commerce
College, Trades, or University ProgramThese programs focus on the general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and non-profit public and private institutions and agencies. They prepare students to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.
Institutions providing this program
Law (LLB, JD, BCL)
University ProgramThese programs prepare students for the independent professional practice of common or civil law, for becoming a Quebec notary, for taking bar examinations, and for advanced research in jurisprudence. They include courses in the theory and practice of the legal system, including the statutory, administrative, and judicial components of civil and criminal law.
Institutions providing this program
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
College or University ProgramThese programs focus on the origins, resolution and prevention of international and inter-group conflicts. They include courses in peace research methods and related social scientific and psychological knowledge bases.
Institutions providing this program
Public Policy Analysis
University ProgramThese programs focus on the systematic analysis of public policy issues and decision processes. They include courses in the role of economic and political factors in public decision making and policy formulation, microeconomic analysis of policy issues, resource allocation and decision modelling, cost/benefit analysis, statistical methods, and applications to specific public policy topics.
Institutions providing this program
Employment requirements & contacts
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Additional resources
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