Workplace Spotlight

What is it Like to Work in a Courthouse?

Courthouses are places where legal matters are heard, disputed, and ultimately resolved. They deal with all sorts of crimes and misdemeanours, from speeding fines all the way up to murder, as well as civil matters such as fraud and child custody.

Here are some common things you can expect to find at courthouses:

1. They’re highly organised – ensuring key details are correct and things happen on time is very important.
2. You’ll work with people – most roles will see you working face-to-face with other people each day.
3. Communication is key – there is lots of information that needs to be relayed between many people, so clear communication is vital to providing the best outcomes.

Key Outcome

Uphold the law and principles of justice

The main focus of courthouses is to punish offenders and compensate victims. Courthouses deal with matters of all sizes and severities.

Key Tasks

• Hear, advise, and decide on legal matters
• Schedule hearings and sentencings
• Prepare important case files
• Keep accurate and detailed records
• Assist clients with queries
• Ensure workers and visitors are safe

Industry

You can find courthouses in the professional, scientific and technical services industry

Courthouses are generally found in the professional, scientific and technical services industry. Courts can vary in size from small local district courts, all the way up to federal courts that hear matters of national importance.

Work Environment

You can expect regular hours and on-site work

Regular work hours  |  Work on-site  |  Jobs more common in metro areas  |  Strong job growth

Most courthouses have regular opening hours, usually around 9 to 5. Most workers will find themselves at work during this time frame.

A lot of the work in courthouses needs to be done in-person, so opportunities to work from home are limited.

Larger courthouses are generally based in metropolitan and regional centres, but there are small courthouses in towns and cities all across the country.

How do we expect working in a courthouse to change in the future?

COVID showed that while difficult, it was possible for courthouses to operate remotely. However, this did present some problems and most courthouses have since gone back to normal operations in person.

Advances in technology have made a lot of the data entry and processing roles easier over the years, and it is expected that as AI gets better and better, it may be able to assist with even more tasks, such as legal research and basic administrative tasks.

Different principles of justice have also gained traction in recent years (such as community justice and Indigenous justice) and are changing the way we think about the law and how courts operate. Mediation is also becoming a more popular method of resolving disputes rather than litigation.