Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Performing Administrative Activities Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

The Work

The functions and work of Court Clerks are many and varied. The Court Clerk is the Registrar of the Court Sittings. As such they take charge of the preparation and order of business on the Court list, including calling the cases, swearing in the Witnesses, recording the Orders of the Judge, and preparing Warrants and Bonds for signature. 

The Registrar's main function is to assist the judge. The Registrar has a list of all the cases before the court for the day. They call out each case in turn so that the parties can identify themselves to the court. When a witness is called in a case, it is the Registrar who hands the witness the Bible and reads out the oath for the witness to repeat.

The Registrar keeps the court documents (writs, etc.) for each case and hands them to the judge as each case is called. When the court makes an order, the Registrar keeps a note of the order.

After the day in court, the Registrar drafts the orders that the judge has made that day and keeps a record of those orders. The Registrar generally deals with the administration necessary for the smooth running of the courts.
 
More serious cases begin in the District Court and are sent forward to the Circuit Court for trial before Judge and Jury. The Court Clerk liaises with the Judge, Gardaí, Prison Officers, Solicitors, Probation Officers and all concerned parties in relation to the cases. This is the most public face of the Court Clerk.

Other duties are those concerned with the administration of the Court business - Administration work, the issuing of notification of Court results and fines issuing Warrants for non-payment; receipting money and balancing accounts; endorsing Driving Licences; certifying Legal Aid and preparing draft orders.  
 
The District Court Clerk, as registrar of Clubs and Pubs, keeps an up to date Register of all such licences in an area and is often called upon to give evidence of these in Higher Courts.  
 
A Small Claims Registrar will hear applications from parties in relation to small civil claims, and can bring about a settlement of the issue.  
 
The Family Law Court and related matters constitute a major part of a Court Clerk's work. In the District Court this includes preparing and issuing Summonses and Orders regarding protection, safety, barring, maintenance and custody proceedings. Also most maintenance payments are made to the Clerk who is responsible for keeping such accounts and ledgers as are necessary and instituting proceedings in the event of non-payment. The Circuit Court has Jurisdiction to grant Judicial Separations.  
 
The District Court clerk prepares cases for forwarding to the Circuit Court on appeal or for trial before a Judge and Jury, signs all summonses issued by the Gardaí and is responsible for collection and collation of statistics, and reporting to the Head Office of the Department of Justice and maintaining awareness of all new legislation. The Clerk can be called out to arrange special sittings of the District Court at night or over the week-ends. In the Circuit Court the Clerk is involved in Jury selection, and empanelling of a Jury. 

A section of the Circuit Court Office is the Sheriff's Office, and the Clerk is responsible for preparing the Court Messengers work, mainly debt-collection on foot of Court orders and re-possessions. Another facet of the work in the Circuit Court is the Land registry and Probate sections.

In Land Registry this involves keeping Land folios up to date, conducting searches and issuing copies. In the Probate Section the clerk deals with the issuing of grants of probate and administration, both to personal applicants and to Solicitors.

In the event of a Daíl or Presidential Election, or a Referendum, the cerk working with the County registrar, who is the returning officer, is involved in all aspects of the election work, from preparing ballot boxes and polling booths to conducting the counting of the votes.

All in all, the Court clerk is an important member of the Courts structure with many responsibilities, whose work is interesting and can vary from day to day.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Evaluate information on applications to verify completeness and accuracy and to determine whether applicants are qualified to obtain desired licenses.
• Verify the authenticity of documents, such as foreign identification or immigration documents.
• Record and edit the minutes of meetings and distribute to appropriate officials or staff members.
• Question applicants to obtain required information, such as name, address, or age, and record data on prescribed forms.
• Issue public notification of all official activities or meetings.
• Record and maintain all vital and fiscal records and accounts.
• Answer questions or provide advice to the public regarding licensing policies, procedures, or regulations.
• Prepare meeting agendas or packets of related information.
• Prepare and issue orders of the court, such as probation orders, release documentation, sentencing information, or summonses.
• Prepare ordinances, resolutions, or proclamations so that they can be executed, recorded, archived, or distributed.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

The Registrar/Court Clerk sits in front of the judge and records orders made by the judge. He/she is responsible for administrative matters and is in charge of court documents and exhibits. They also record the names of witnesses, swears in the jury and records the decision of the case.

Recruitment may be from within the Civil Service by examination and interview, or through open competition.

The Court Clerk is graded from Executive Officer level and higher. Entry to Executive Officer grade is by open competition conducted by the Civil Service Commission via Public appointments application & Career path

Notice of the competition is given in the media. Application forms and details are available when the competition is announced on Public Jobs. 
 

Training & Development 

The entry requirements for this grade would typically be minimum Leaving Certificate level. Qualifications at higher levels on the framework may enhance your chances in application processes. 

FET Centre Traineeship: Business & Office administration NFQ level 5 Search our FET Traineeship coursefinder

FET Centre PLC: Legal studies/ Secretary, Office & Business administration NFQ 5 level Search our FET PLC coursefinder 

Higher Education CAO entry: Legal Studies NFQ level 6 Search our CAO coursefinder 

Further Training  

LawED 

Training for a Court clerk may be 'on-the-job'. There is a Training section in the Department of Justice headquarters providing training for all personnel, together with a Training Officer assigned specifically to the Courts.

Between these two offices long-term educational courses and relevant day courses/training are organised.

Last Updated: March, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €45k

Salaries vary by employer, duties, role, relevant salary scale in department, experience, and location.

Data Source(s):
Gov.ie / Forsa

Last Updated: February, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment levels have declined annually since 2020 for this occupation, resulting in a negative growth rate for the five-year annual average. There were a small number of employment permits issued for legal counsel across a number of sectors including ICT and the financial sector. However, the professional, scientific and technical activities sector accounts for the majority of employment in this occupation.

• Public Appointments Service

  • Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
  • (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Courts Service

  • 15-24 Phoenix Street North. Smithfield, Dublin 7
  • (01) 888 6000
  • Click Here

• Department of Justice and Equality

  • 94 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2
  • (01) 602 8202
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here