Court clerks may be assigned to work in courtrooms or back-office support units where they perform a variety of tasks, including calling the calendar, preparing written correspondence and examining court documents to ensure accuracy.
Court Clerks work in courtrooms and support offices assisting judges with court cases performing a variety of tasks such as calling the court calendar, preparing written correspondence, maintaining custody of physical evidence, swearing in witnesses and preparing and examining court documents to ensure accuracy. Court clerks can advance through the competitive title series by taking the promotional Associate Court Clerk or Associate Surrogate’s Court Clerk (JG–23), Principal Court Clerk or Principal Surrogate’s Court Clerk (JG–26) and progress to supervisory and management positions as Court Clerk Specialists (JG–30), Chief Clerk and other operational and administrative positions.
How Do I Become a Court Clerk?
- Take the promotional Court Clerk (Upstate Court Locations)/Senior Court Clerk Exam (Downstate Court Locations) and/or
- Take the promotional Surrogate’s Court Clerk (Upstate Court Locations)/Senior Surrogate’s Court Clerk Exam (Downstate Court Locations)
Qualifications
- Must be in a court system competitive title to take the Court Clerk/Senior Court Clerk promotional exam
- Must have two years of permanent service in any competitive title in the court system to be appointed as a Court Clerk/Senior Court Clerk
Steps:
Receive Exam Score and Rank (approximately six months to a year after taking the exam).
Subject to successfully passing the exam, candidate will:
• Indicate location preference (where candidate would like to work in New York State)
• Court or District will contact candidate based on rank number and location preference to schedule an Interview Note: Interview selection process follows Section 61 of the Civil Service Law ‘One-in-Three Rule’ allowing a panel of court managers to appoint one of the top three scoring candidates from the eligible list
• Attend the Scheduled Interview
• Receive Appointment Letter
Career Progression
• Take the Associate Court Clerk Promotional Exam and/or the Associate Surrogate’s Court Clerk Promotional Exam
• Take the Principal Court Clerk Promotional Exam and/or the Principal Surrogate’s Court Clerk Exam
• Advance based on job experience and supervisory experience to managerial positions such as Court Clerk Specialist, Case Management Coordinator, Assistant Deputy Chief Clerk, Deputy Chief Clerk, Chief Clerk or advance to other key operational or administrative and management positions.