Crown Court Clerk

Ministry of Justice; Winchester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Ministry of Justice Crown Court Clerks play a vital role in ensuring hearings run smoothly. The training programme offers a structured path to build the skills needed to produce accurate court documents and liaise confidently with the Judge and others in court.

The role may involve line management later and may require covering other Crown Courts within commuting distance (Salisbury). This office-based, full-time position supports public service and career development within HM Courts &

Qualifications

• Able to speak publicly in a courtroom and communicate clearly with the Judge and participants.
• Ability to motivate and support your team to deliver excellent customer service and achieve effective performance.
• Excellent communication, organisational and prioritisation skills.
• IT proficient with the ability to learn and adapt to different technologies and software packages.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the smooth running of Crown Courts sitting daily and intervene in Court when required.
• Produce exact and time-critical documentation and record hearing outcomes accurately and efficiently.
• Support the team’s wellbeing and measure performance through team and individual meetings.

Skills

Public speaking in court

Team motivation

Communication & organisation

IT literacy

Job description

Our Crown Court Clerks are essential to ensure Crown Court hearings run smoothly. They have the self‑assurance to speak in court, communicate confidently with the Judge and all participants and the skill to produce accurate and timely Court documents. Our Crown Court Clerk training programme provides a structured yet flexible approach to building the skills required to perform this vital role. This role may involve line management responsibilities at a later stage., In addition to being assigned to your primary court location, candidates may be required to cover other Crown Courts within a reasonable commuting distance, namely Salisbury.

Court dress

A collar and tabs with either a jacket or gown will be provided to all Court Clerks. Standard professional attire and dark shoes should be worn when attending the judiciary whether in court or chambers. A wig must be worn when clerking for a High Court Judge.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Your training may take place at an alternative location to your base location.

Advance notice and planning will be given. Additional travel costs such as mileage and train travel apply when travelling to alternative Courts. Travel will be on a rota basis once fully trained.

Skilled Worker Visa

This role is not eligible for new Skilled Worker visas in accordance with the current immigration rules.

From 22 July 2025, the Government introduced changes to the Skilled Worker visa route. The department cannot consider sponsoring you for this role unless you have held a Skilled Worker visa prior to the 22 July 2025 changes. If you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously, please raise this during your vetting checks and eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the immigration rules and transitional provisions in place.

If you are applying for this role and you have not held a Skilled Worker visa prior to the 22 July 2025 changes, you will need to consider your options for obtaining and/or maintaining your right to work in the UK in light of these changes. Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom.

This is a unique position at the heart of justice. It requires high emotional resilience, along with the ability to understand and be sensitive to many, sometime difficult, issues and take a non‑judgemental approach to our service users.

You’re an active listener, confident communicator; able to speak publicly in court, with the self‑assurance to confidently liaise with the Judge, the defence, prosecution, media, members of the public and more, regarding complex and sensitive matters in a calm and professional manner.

A real team player, working with the clerking team, you’ll ensure the smooth running of all the Crown Courts sitting daily, able to intervene in Court when required and maximise judicial sitting time. With experience in producing exact and time critical documentation, your ability to focus will be key in taking verdicts, conducting arraignments, producing Court orders and recording hearing outcomes accurately and efficiently.

You recognise the importance of the team’s overall wellbeing and meet objectives by setting clear direction and measuring through team and individual meetings.

Resilient, keen to learn and able to multi‑task, you’re familiar with working within process and have the IT skills to adapt to new systems and technologies as we’re constantly investing in digital solutions to improve the way we deliver the justice people deserve in today’s world.

Your skills and experience

Able to speak publicly and within a court room environment.

Ability to motivate and support your team to deliver excellent customer service and achieve effective performance.

Excellent communication, organisational and prioritisation skills.

Ability to complete documents accurately and to deadlines.

IT proficient with the ability to learn and adapt to different technologies and software packages.

This role gives you the opportunity to make a difference in delivering Justice and supports you to develop your career in the Civil Service.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family Courts and Tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues within HMCTS, where people and businesses access potentially life‑changing justice. We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and making a difference in people’s lives to deliver justice.

These operational roles are customer facing, requiring successful applicants to be office based to provide HMCTS services to the public. This is a business‑critical role requiring full time hours Monday to Friday. Applications for compressed hours cannot be considered.