Court Support Services
![Fanshawe Court Support Services student, typing on keyboard and looking at computer monitor in courtroom setting](/sites/default/files/styles/program_medium_943x690_/public/images/2022-08/2021-10-21-court_support_services_-_cos1-covid-js-43-edited.jpg?h=89a18db5&itok=cL99-2cc)
*Domestic applicants include Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons and Convention refugees.
The Court Support Services program is designed to provide graduates with the specialized knowledge and skills required to work in various court support and court and client service positions for the Ontario Courts, as well as providing specialized evidence recording and interactive learning activities focused on courtroom staff roles with an emphasis on professionalism and decorum.
Graduates can expect excellent employment opportunities in this sector or can take advantage of the other law-focused programs in the School of Public Safety to further expand their skill set.
Students who graduate from the Court Support Services program will be prepared for a range of careers within the courtroom and various other areas with Ontario Courts. Courses within the program have been designed by industry experts to include current and up-to-date skills in order to prepare students for the industry’s recruitment needs. Students will be introduced to working in both the Ontario and Superior Courts of Justice which oversee various disciplines and jurisdictions of law including Criminal, Family, Civil, and Provincial Offences.
Courses in the program include instruction and use of current court software such as Liberty Court Recording, FTR, and CaseLines. Students have a balance of both class and lab time during the program and also benefit from observing court in progress. Students also learn crucial skills required in the profession such as courtroom decorum, communication skills, professionalism, and legal knowledge.
This is one of the only programs of its kind in Ontario to provide field placements in Ontario courthouses, giving students invaluable industry experience before they graduate. Field placements are 120 hours in length in addition to the 30 weeks of in-class study.
Please note: the majority of courses in the Court Support Services program take place after 6 p.m.
Graduates of Fanshawe's Court Support Services program can utilize the specialized knowledge and skills learned through the program to pursue various court support and court client service positions. Graduates will be prepared for a range of careers within the courtroom and various other areas with Ontario Courts.
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Court Support Services program:
Court Clerk
Perform support functions in courts of law, such as calling court to order, preparing court dockets and maintaining exhibits.
Court Reporter
Record and transcribe verbatim proceedings of courts, legislative assemblies and committees and prepare judges, tribunals and quasi-judicial panels.
Court Services Officer
Be responsible for keeping records of court processes served and enforcing court decisions by executing court orders.
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
Suzanne Kingshott
Test | Score |
---|---|
TOEFL iBT | 79 |
IELTS Academic | Overall score of 6.0 with no score less than 5.5 in any of the four bands |
CAEL | Overall score of 60 with no score less than 50 in any of the four bands. score of 80 in listening |
PTE Academic | 53 |
Cambridge English | Overall score of 169 with no language skill less than 162 |
ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 8, 75% in Level 9, or 70% in Level 10 |
Duolingo | Overall score of 105, with no score lower than 95 |
The following items are applicable to the program:
Level 1 | ||||
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
LAWS-1091 | Court Clerk-OCJ Criminal | 3 | ||
Students will study the role of Ontario Court clerks with respect to assisting the judiciary in a criminal bail, plea, and trial court. The course will focus on principles, courtroom procedures, and operations using Ministry of the Attorney General-approved guidelines specific to the Ontario Court of Justice. | ||||
COMM-1146 | Professional Communication & Courtroom 1 | 5 | ||
Students will examine and apply the principles of good written and oral communication including the use of proper grammar, spelling, and proofreading skills. Students will also study the various roles of participants in the courtroom, appropriate courtroom dress, and decorum. The course will address the importance of confidentiality and sensitivity in a courtroom environment. | ||||
COMP-1551 | Computers & Courtroom Technology | 3 | ||
In this course students will be introduced to Microsoft Office to create and format court services and other legal-based documents using correct formatting, spelling, and grammar. In addition, students will be introduced to various court technologies used in the courtroom. Students will have opportunities to practice these skills throughout the term. | ||||
LAWS-1092 | Court Clerk/Registrar-Family Court 1 | 4 | ||
This course will focus on the principles, courtroom procedures, and operations using Ministry of the Attorney General-approved guidelines specific to the Ontario Court of Justice, Superior Court of Justice, and the Family Court. Students will be introduced to Family Law legislation and rules, proceedings, case management, child protection timetables, and case tracking technology. | ||||
LAWS-1093 | Canadian Legal System-Intro | 3 | ||
This course introduces students to the Canadian legal system. Students will examine the parties involved in the legal system in Canada, sources of law, the Constitution, and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Through this course, students will gain a general understanding of how laws are defined, created, and interpreted as well as the history, structure, and jurisdiction of Canadian courts. | ||||
LAWS-1094 | Court Reporter 1 | 4 | ||
In this course, students examine the role of a court reporter, including how the reporter should interact with other members of the court in a professional and respectful manner. In accordance with Ministry of the Attorney General-approved guidelines, students will learn to record and annotate court proceedings using current digital recording equipment and systems. |
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.