You don’t necessarily need to be a lawyer or judge to work in a courtroom.
Instead, these 8 types of careers in the courtroom will ensure that you get to work in the legal field while still being in a courtroom.
For many people, the thrill of the courtroom, with its drama, action, and fast pace is exciting and an appealing career choice.
A career in the courtroom doesn’t necessarily require a law or legal degree.
There are a varying number of professionals whom are in the courtroom, ensuring the legal proceedings flow seamlessly and effortlessly.
Without these individuals, the courtroom and its function in the democratic system would be difficult to accomplish.
Judge
The most obvious career in the courtroom falls to no other than the judge.
A judge, by design, is meant to conduct hearings and make rulings based on pretrial businesses.
In addition, judges will determine how cases will be tried, of course, subject to the specific legal rules and procedure.
In addition, judges will decide on the guilt or innocence of a defendant, particularly if the defendant has opted to not have a jury present at the trial.
If there is a jury present, the judge will instruct the jury on the law and how to proceed with determining innocence.
Becoming a judge is no easy task.
An individual must first complete their bachelor’s degree, followed by attending and completing law school.
After law school, the individual will need to pass the bar exam.
From there, an individual has a few paths to becoming a judge but more often than not, you will want to practice law and earn your judgeship to be fully credentialed.
Attorney(s)
Another obvious career in the courtroom is as an attorney.
An attorney’s job is meant to prosecute or defend an individual, depending on which side of the courtroom they are working for.
When defending a client, the defense attorney must be well-versed in the law and the specifics of the case.
They will be tasked with defending their client and look to convince the jury of their client’s innocence.
Similar to becoming a judge, the path to becoming a lawyer requires completion of a bachelor’s degree and law school.
Once completed, the individual will need to pass the bar exam and begin practicing law in their specific jurisdiction.
Interpreter
A less known career in the courtroom is the role of the interpreter.
A courtroom is meant to hear a variety of different cases with different actors and players.
Many times, these individuals may not speak the local language or may feel uncomfortable speaking in a language other than their mother tongue.
In those situations, the court will assign a dedicated interpreter to assist the individual.
The interpreter will be tasked with translating the individual’s statements to the best of their ability.
The interpreter must be well-versed in both languages and will need to ensure that they provide accurate testimony and translation.
Bailiff
A popular career choice in the courtroom, the bailiff is the manager, overseer, and custodian of the court.
A bailiff is meant to keep order and rule in the courtroom and will ensure that disruptions and chaos are managed.
In addition, the bailiff is responsible for the prisoner and their transference.
Becoming a bailiff can be an attractive career choice.
You will need to have a high-school diploma or GED and will need to pass a background check.
In addition, it can be useful to have specialized skills, including firearms and self-defense training, threat neutralization training, and first aid and CPR training.
Judge’s Associate
A less known career from the 8 types of careers in the courtroom, the judge’s associate is a judge’s right-hand person.
They are tasked with assisting the judge with the legal proceedings and ensuring that the flow of the proceedings is on track and accurate.
Paralegal
With the level of work and documents needed to be completed before and after a trial, many attorneys will enlist the help and assistance of a paralegal.
A paralegal is an individual who is employed by an attorney to assist with the legal work which comes across their desk.
Paralegals play an integral part in the courtroom and the legal process.
In the United States, paralegals average over $48,000 per year.
Becoming a paralegal requires an individual to attend specific paralegal education programs which will help them to be prepared for the tasks needed.
Court Clerk
The ongoing chaos and fast pace of a courtroom require an individual to assist with the duties of the court.
This task is assigned to the court clerk.
The court clerk is meant to ensure that the court and the proceedings flow seamlessly and without interruption.
A court clerk prepares and issues orders from the court.
They also prepare dockets of cases and ensure they are sent and received properly.
Court clerks will also examine legal files which have been submitted to the court and will search files and contact witnesses, attorneys, or litigants to obtain additional information the court may need.
The average salary of a court clerk is just under $40,000 per year.
However, there are no strict educational requirements to become one besides a high school diploma.
Although, you will need to have many soft and hard skills, including data entry, legal documentation, scheduling, and case management.
Court Reporter
Last, but certainly not least in our list of 8 types of careers in the courtroom, is the court reporter.
The court reporter is meant to document and transcribe the written words of all individuals within the courtroom.
The court reporter will ensure that all words are correctly and accurately transcribed and will need a high level of proficiency in typing.
Conclusion
When it comes to the 8 types of careers in the courtroom, it is important to understand that there are a plethora of different careers and individuals needed to ensure the process of the courtroom flows smoothly and effortlessly.
While the judge and attorneys do require a law degree, many other careers do not, simply needing a high school diploma.
If you’re interested in a career in the courtroom, it may be worthwhile to continue to investigate and research these positions.
Each one has its positives and negatives.
But, if you’re interested in the legal system and wish to work in a courtroom, there are a multitude of positions available.
