Court procedures

The regulations which are in place during the investigation of a court case and during a court hearing, and of how these events occur.

judicial operations
court processes
judicial processes
court operations
judicial administration
judicial arrangements
court administration
court arrangements

knowledge

cross-sector

Court procedures is an essential knowledge of the following occupations:

Judge: Judges preside over, review and handle court cases, hearings, appeals and trials. They ensure that court procedures conform to conventional legal processes and review evidence and juries. Judges preside over cases involving such areas as crime, family issues, civil law, small claims and juvenile offenses.
Court clerk: Court clerks provide assistance to judges in a court institution. They handle enquiries on court proceedings, and assist judges in various tasks such as performing legal research in preparation of cases or writing opinion pieces. They also contact parties involved in cases and brief judges and other court officials.
Supreme court judge: Supreme court judges preside in high courts, dealing with complex criminal and civil cases. They examine the case during trials in order to formulate a sentence or to direct a jury in reaching a conclusion, and decide on any punishments if an offending party is found guilty. They rule proceedings and ensure the trial is held in a fair manner compliant with legislation.
Court administrator: Court administrators perform managerial tasks in a court institution, such as supervision of staff, administration, communicating with judges and reviewing procedures. They also manage the court’s finances, and oversee maintenance of the facility and equipment.
Court bailiff: Court bailiffs maintain order and security in courtrooms. They transport offenders to and from the courtroom, ensure necessary supplies are present in the courtroom, and investigate the premises and examine individuals to ensure there are no threats. They also open and close court, and call witnesses.
Court jury coordinator: Court jury coordinators aid lawyers in the preparation of the trial by researching jury members. They aid in the development of trial strategies, analyse the jury’s behaviour during a trial, and advise lawyers on proceedings. They also assist in preparing witnesses and constructing arguments.
Legal assistant:
Legal assistants work closely together with lawyers and legal representatives in the research and preparation of cases brought to courts. They assist in the paper work of cases and management of the administrative side of court affairs.
Lawyer: Lawyers provide legal advice to clients and act on their behalf in legal proceedings and in compliance with the law. They research for, interpret and study cases to represent their clients in a variety of settings such as courts and administrative boards. They create arguments on behalf of their clients for lawsuits in different contexts with the aim of finding a legal remedy.
Court administrative officer: Court administrative officers perform administrative and assisting duties for the court and judges. They are designated to accept or reject applications for informal probate and informal appointment of a personal representative. They manage case accounts and handle official documents. Court administrative officers perform assisting duties during a court trial, such as calling out the cases and identification of parties, keeping notes, and recording orders from the judge..
Court reporter: Court reporters type in word processors or any other software each one of the words mentioned in the courtroom. They transcript the hearings that take place in court in order to issue the official hearings of the legal case. They allow that the case can be further studied by the parties in an accurate fashion.
Prosecutor: Prosecutors represent governmental bodies and the general public in court cases against parties accused of illegal activity. They investigate the court cases by examining evidence, interviewing involved parties, and interpreting the law. They use the results of their investigation in order to present the case during court hearings, and to construct persuasive arguments in order to ensure the outcome is the most favourable for the parties they represent.
Law lecturer: Law lecturers are subject professors, teachers, or lecturers who instruct students who have obtained an upper secondary education diploma in their own specialised field of study, law, which is predominantly academic in nature. They work with their university research assistants and university teaching assistants
for the preparation of lectures and of exams, for grading papers and exams and for leading review and feedback sessions for the students. They also conduct academic research in their respective field of law, publish their findings and liaise with other university colleagues.
Crime journalist: Crime journalists research and write articles about criminal events for newspapers, magazines, television and other media. They conduct interviews and attend court hearings.
Justice of the peace: Justices of the peace deal with small claims and disputes, and minor offences. They ensure the keeping of the peace within their jurisdiction, and provide mediation between disputing parties.
Corporate lawyer: Corporate lawyers provide legal consulting services and representation to corporations and organisations. They give advice on matters relating to taxes, legal rights and patents, international trade, trademarks, and legal financial issues arising from operating a business.

Court procedures is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this knowledge may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Legal administrative assistant:
Legal administrative assistants carry out the daily administrative activities of firms, offices of notaries public, and companies. They perform activities such as writing mails, phone-answering and typing/keyboarding. They combine these activities with specific knowledge and understanding of the procedures and codes managed in legal business affairs.
Legal consultant: Legal consultants advise a varied array of clients ranging from business, individuals, up to legal firms. They provide legal advisory outside courtrooms in relation to legal affairs which depend on the nature of the client. They advise in matters such as merging of multinationals, housing purchase, modification of contracts and its implications. They help clients in general to abide by the regulations and avoid committing illegal acts.
Mediator:
Mediators resolve disputes between two parties by examining the case, interviewing both parties, and advising on a solution which would be the most beneficial for them. They listen to both parties in order to facilitate communication and find a fair agreement and organise meetings. They aim at resolving disputes through dialogue and alternative solution without having to take the case to litigation and courts. Mediators ensure that the resolution is compliant with legal regulations and is also enforced.
Scopist: Scopists edit the transcripts created by court reporters in order to make of them a readable professional legal document. They listen or read to the reports given to them in order to apply punctuation, missing words, format, and improve the accuracy of the document.
Social worker: Social workers are practice-based professionals who promote social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. They interact with individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities in order to provide various forms of therapy and counselling, group work, and community work. Social workers guide people to use services to claim benefits, access community resources, find jobs and training, obtain legal advice or deal with other local authority departments.
Lawyer linguist: Lawyer linguists interpret and translate legal pieces from one language to another. They provide legal analysis to the information before them and help in understanding technicalities of the content expressed in other languages.
Intellectual property consultant: Intellectual property consultants provide advice on the usage of intellectual property assests such as patents, copyrights, and trademarks. They help clients to value, in monetary terms, intellectual property portfolios, to follow adequate legal procedures for protecting of such property, and to perform patent brokerage activities.
Probation officer: Probation officers supervise offenders after their release, or who were sentenced to penalties outside of incarceration. They write reports providing advice on the offender’s sentence and analysis concerning possibilities of reoffense. They aid the offenders during the rehabilitation and reintegration process and ensure the offenders carry out their community service sentence when necessary.
Private detective: Private detectives research and analyse information to uncover facts for personal, corporate or legal reasons, depending on their clients. They conduct surveillance activities, which includes taking photos, doing background checks and interviewing individuals. Private detectives may help in criminal and civil cases, child custody, financial fraud, on-line harassment and may search for missing people. They compile all the information into a file and hand it to their clients for further action.

Human rights officer: Human rights officers investigate and handle human rights violations, as well as develop plans to reduce violations and to ensure compliance to human rights legislation. They investigate complaints by examining information and interviewing victims and perpetrators, and communicate with organisations involved with human rights activities.
Criminal justice social worker: Criminal justice social workers tackle criminal behaviour and reduce risk of reoffending by promoting and establishing programs to prevent crime within communities. They assist in prosecutions and help to investigate criminal cases. They assist prisoners reinsert into the community after release from custody. They also support and supervise the offenders sentenced to community service and provide support to the victims and the people closely affected by the crime.
Journalist: Journalists research, verify and write news stories for newspapers, magazines, television and other broadcast media. They cover political, economic, cultural, social and sport events. Journalists must conform to ethical codes such as freedom of speech and right of reply, press law and editorial standards in order to bring objective information.
Court enforcement officer: Court enforcement officers enforce orders of court judgements such as managing the recovery of money owed, seizing of goods, and selling goods in public auctions to obtain the money owed. They also send summons and arrest warrants to ensure attendance in court or other judicial procedures.
Case administrator: Case administrators supervise the progress of criminal and civil cases from the point of opening to closing. They review the case files and case progression to ensure proceedings occur compliant with legislation. They also ensure the proceedings occur in a timely manner and that everything has been concluded before closing cases.
Coroner: Coroners oversee the examination of deceased individuals in order to determine the cause of death in uncommon circumstances. They ensure records are maintained of the deaths within their jurisdiction, and facilitate communication with other officials to ensure the investigation is complete.
Notary: Notaries ensure the authenticity and legitimacy of official documents such as declarations, certificates, contracts, deeds and purchases. They examine the documents, witness the signing and authenticate them. They administer oaths and affirmations and perform other acts of notarisation.

References

1. Court procedures – ESCO