At the centre of this article is Centennial College’s Court Support Services. This is an Ontario College Certificate program that helps to get students a foot in the door of the Canadian justice system. It is ideal for those who wish to become court clerks or monitors.

1. Court Support Services Training Gets You Industry
Ready In Two Semesters
The Canadian justice system consists of a range of components that all work
together as a cohesive unit to ensure that proceedings run smoothly and in
a timely manner. Two of the components essential to the justice system fall
under the court support services umbrella. The first is the role of the court
reporter whom is responsible for producing verbatim transcripts of Court of
Queen’s Bench proceedings (trials), quasi-judicial proceedings, boards of
inquiry and public hearings. This person may also provide real-time
reporting services on request. Meanwhile, the role of a court clerk includes
those who perform support functions in courts of law, such as calling court
to order, preparing court dockets and maintaining exhibits.
While these two roles differ, you only have to attend one program to have
the knowledge to launch a career in either role. Municipal court training
at Centennial College is called Court Support Services and trains students in
two semesters to carry out the duties of court reporters and court clerks.
This is achieved through a curriculum that has been approved by the
Ministry of the Attorney General and includes the implementation of
courtroom procedures, in addition to working with judges, lawyers and
other courtroom personnel. Enhancing the courtroom aspects of the training
is Centennial College’s on-campus, simulated courtroom, which gives
students the opportunity to practice communicating with a judge, swearing
in witnesses, transcribing and more — without the worry of not being able
to make an error.
Among the specific courses included in this court reporter and court clerk
training are: Court Monitor, Court Clerk – Family, Court Clerk – Criminal,
Ethics and Professional Conduct, Current Issues in Canadian Law (students
learn basic legal principles affecting their legal rights and responsibilities in
their relations with other individuals, with groups and with government);
Introduction to Word Processing (designed to provide learners with the basic
skills to operate and utilize word processing software in order to produce
basic business documents, while emphasizing building communication and
critical thinking skills, and on progressively increasing keyboarding
proficiency to produce business documents with speed and accuracy); Word
Processing Applications (focuses on developing intermediate skills to
operate and utilize word processing software in order to produce enhanced
business documents); and more.
Aside from completing career-oriented assignments and training in the
simulated courtroom, students also benefit from visiting family, criminal,

2. small claims and municipal court settings as well as various tribunal
hearings.
Grads will launch careers with The Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario
Court of Justice, Ontario Superior Court of Justice), official examiners, court
reporting services, municipal courts, tribunals and boards and more.