Court Support Services

Program Overview

In partnership with the Ministry of the Attorney General, the Court Support Services program at Durham College was the first specialized court support training program to be offered in Ontario. Whether you are working in criminal, civil, youth, family or provincial offences court, court support services staff carry a lot of responsibility and play a critical role in the administration of justice. As an extension of the bench, courtroom clerks, registrars and court services officers must maintain and ensure proper decorum and integrity while providing high-quality professional customer service. You will gain practical skills and knowledge in all court business lines, including evidence recording skills as a court reporter and obtain a solid foundation in court support services that will prepare you for a career in many areas within the justice sector. The program is enhanced by faculty who share direct court support experience and expertise

Court Documents

Courtroom Processes

Evidence Recording

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)

Intakes and Availability

Date	Domestic Availability	International Availability
September 2020	Open

Tuition

Year one domestic: $2,722 (CDN)
Year one international: $13,322 (CDN)

View Full Costs

Semester 1 Courses

View All Courses

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Court clerk/court registrar
Court reporter
Court services officer
Court and client services representatives
Private court reporter agencies
Courts administration
Judicial secretary
Legal secretary
Specialized court workers

View all Career Options

Program Details

This program is designed to provide you with the many specialized knowledge and skills required to work in various court support staff capacities for the courts in Ontario focusing on the roles of the Courtroom Clerk/Registrar, Court Reporter and Court Services Officer positions, as well as in agencies, on boards and tribunals, and in administrative positions within the justice sector.

In addition, it will enable you to gain the specialized evidence recording and skills required to work for organizations such as law firms and private court reporting agencies. You will also obtain a solid foundation that will help prepare you for work in many other areas within the justice sector.

You should possess excellent oral and written communication skills; have a high degree of responsibility, punctuality, maturity and conscientiousness; and have the ability to work independently with little supervision and as part of a team.

Prior to admission you should attend a courtroom setting and speak to a court support services worker or a member of an agency, board or commission to acquire knowledge about his or her duties.

Please note: You are required to complete a criminal record and a judicial matters check prior to entering into your second semester field placement.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or Mature Student Status
Grade 12 English (C or U)

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Courses and course descriptions are subject to change.

Costs

YEAR ONE FEES	Domestic	International
Tuition	$2,722	$13,322
Compulsory Ancillary	$1,337	$1,812
Program Incidental	$155	$155
Total Fees:	$4,214	$15,289

Please note: fees are based on the 2019-2020 academic year and do not include textbooks. For more information please see Other fees to consider.

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Court clerk/court registrar
Court reporter
Court services officer
Court and client services representatives
Private court reporter agencies
Courts administration
Judicial secretary
Legal secretary
Specialized court workers

WHERE YOU COULD WORK

Municipal and provincial courthouses
Client service agencies
Law firms
Private court reporter agencies

Field Placement

Your learning experience will be complemented by a field placement, which will provide the opportunity to integrate theory with practice under the supervision of an industry professional. Durham College’s Court Support Services certificate program was the first program in Ontario to focus on employment within court services as well as court-related positions in the justice sector. It distinguishes itself from other programs due to the field placement course which allows students to choose placement in specific court support positions.
The most significant part of the program is the field observations in first semester visiting many levels of court and the one-on-one shadowing component in second semester.

Please note: You are required to complete a criminal record and a judicial matters check prior to entering into your second semester field placement.

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Qualified graduates can go on to take:

Durham College also offers degree completion opportunities with a number of Canadian and international institutions.

Please visit our pathways page to learn more about how you can transfer your credits towards a degree.

Book a campus tour

Need assistance with this form?

T: 905.721.3000

Program related questions?
Contact Recruitment.

Application related questions?
Contact Admissions.

International student?

Contact International Admissions or call 905.721.2000 ext. 2355.

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Recommended

Intakes and Availability

Tuition

Semester 1 Courses

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

Program Details

Admission Requirements

Recommended

Courses

Semester 1

Semester 2

Costs

Career Options

WHAT YOU COULD BE:

WHERE YOU COULD WORK

Field Placement

Program Transfer, Degree Completion and Additional Credentials

Book a campus tour

Helpful Resources

College guide September 2020 [PDF]

College guide September 2020 [Interactive]

Graduate Employment Report [PDF]