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If you have an interest in obtaining court monitor or court clerk training and have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or are19 years of age or older; and have also finished the compulsory English 12 or U, or skills assessment, or equivalent, you may want to consider Centennial College's Court Support Services program.

This quick-paced offering takes two semesters to finish and results in an Ontario College Certificate as well as the know-how to pursue employment with: The Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario Court of Justice, Ontario Superior Court of Justice); municipal Courts; tribunals and boards; official examiners; court reporting services.

Graduates either secure positions as court monitors or court clerks. In the role of court monitor, graduates may:

• Ask speakers to clarify inaudible statements
• Provide transcripts of proceedings upon request of judges, lawyers, or the public
• Record verbatim proceedings of courts, legislative assemblies, committee meetings, and other proceedings
• Use computerized recording equipment, electronic stenograph machines, or stenomasks
• Transcribe recorded proceedings in accordance with established formats
• Respond to requests during court sessions to read portions of the proceedings already recorded.

Meanwhile, as court clerks, grads are responsible for:

• Preparing dockets or calendars of cases to be called
• Recording case dispositions, court orders, and arrangements made for payment of court fees
• Preparing documents recording the outcomes of court proceedings
• Instructing parties about timing of court appearances
• Explaining procedures or forms to parties in cases or to the general public
• Swearing in jury members, interpreters, witnesses and defendants

Here is a closer look at some of the specifics of municipal court training at Centennial College.

• The Ministry of the Attorney General has approved the program.
• During the two semesters, students attend 15 courses.
• Two of the 15 courses are practicum opportunities.
• Among the specific topics covered within the offering are: role of the court clerk in family and criminal courts, ethics and professional conduct, current issues in Canadian law, introduction to word processing, word processing applications and more.
• The program offers students theory, which is reinforced by practical application.
• Assignments that students complete are career-oriented.
• Centennial College's Progress Campus houses a simulated courtroom, which is used by students.
• In the simulated courtroom, students become comfortable with administering oaths and presenting in front of a judge.
• There are field trip opportunities during the program, during which students attend courts and tribunals in the Greater Toronto Area.