At a Glance
- Tasks: Support court proceedings by managing files, assisting users, and ensuring smooth operations.
- Company: Join HM Courts & Tribunals Service, making a real difference in people's lives.
- Benefits: Competitive pay of £12.21 per hour with potential for extension.
- Why this job: Be part of a vital role in the justice system and gain valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and proficiency in IT are essential.
- Other info: Full-time position with opportunities for personal growth and development.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 30000 £ per year.
Brook Street have a fantastic opportunity to work with Plymouth Combined Court as a Court Usher on a temporary basis.
Please note – For this position you will be required to work across the combined court and Plymouth magistrates court.
Hours – Full time, 37 hours per week
Pay – £12.21 per hour
Assignment length: 31/12/25, chance of extension
Onsite only
Enhanced DBS checked
The Court Usher is a pivotal role in court proceedings and a vital link between court users and the Judiciary to ensure the smooth running of the hearings.
Your role
The main responsibilities of the role include:
- Collecting and delivering files and bundles to the judiciary and clerks ensuring they have the necessary papers
- Providing support to colleagues & judiciary outside of court / hearing times
- General clerical work, including use of computers and Switchboard
- Filling out forms
- Operating recording equipment and maintaining records of recordings of hearings
- Sort and deliver lists of hearings for internal & external notice boards
- Correspondence
- Completing standard forms
- Straightforward drafting such as acknowledgements and receipting, confirmations, court orders, warrants etc.
- Post Handling
- Opening, sorting, distributing and dispatching post as required
- Collecting and delivering post from appropriate offices
- Monitoring Stock
- Ensuring Court rooms are supplied against requirements for relevant forms and stationary
- Collecting and delivering stationary around the offices
- Data Entry and recording
- Resulting, checking accuracy and completeness against guidelines or a proforma, straightforward money handling e.g. issuing jury payments, spending petty cash under instruction.
- Operating equipment
- Office and court equipment e.g. computers, fax machines, scanners, photocopiers, switchboards, franking machines, messaging equipment, tape, and video recorders etc.
- Handling telephone calls
- Answering standard enquiries and passing messages to others.
- Arranging meetings
- Preparing rooms for hearings, tribunals, trials, meetings and clearing the court / hearing room down at the end of the day etc.
- Using electronic diaries
- Reception of parties to court
- Including members of the public, judiciary, juries, solicitors and barristers, the police, representatives of external Agencies etc.
- Providing information related to proceedings, escorting court users into and from the building, swearing oaths etc.
- Calling people into court / hearing rooms in priority order, discussing with Court Clerks and Legal Advisers and liaising with the Witness Service as necessary
- Answering face to face enquiries
- Keeping parties informed of changes eg, of courtrooms and hearing times
Your skills and experience
The ideal candidate will have:
- A friendly and approachable manner
- Strong communications skills
- Ability to assist and address court users in a clear and confident manner.
- Ability to multi-task, prioritise and organise your own time undertaking some administrative tasks.
- Proficient using IT, with the attention to detail to ensure court documents are accurate
- Able to adapt to and learn new software packages.
- Take pride in providing help and reassurance calmly and professionally in what can sometimes be challenging situations.
About us
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.
Brook Street is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and as such, we guarantee to interview all candidates who are veterans or spouses/partners of military personnel, and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy.
As a Disability Confident Leader, and holder of the Gold Award status from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, Brook Street, as a supplier to the Public Sector Resourcing Framework (PSR), will offer you a guaranteed interview with a PSR Sourcer.
Should you identify as a candidate with a disability and/or as a veteran or spouse/partner of military personnel and meet all the essential criteria for the role, we encourage you to reach out to us via the Brook Street website.
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Court Usher employer: Brook Street
Contact Detail:
Brook Street Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Court Usher
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the court environment! Familiarise yourself with the layout and processes of the Plymouth Combined Court. This will help you feel more confident when you're on the job and make a great impression.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your communication skills! As a Court Usher, you'll be interacting with various court users. Try role-playing scenarios with friends or family to boost your confidence in addressing people clearly and professionally.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay organised! Use tools like calendars or task lists to manage your time effectively. Being able to juggle multiple tasks is key in this role, so find a system that works for you.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application, so make sure you submit it directly. This way, we can keep track of your interest and get you one step closer to landing that Court Usher position.
We think you need these skills to ace Court Usher
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the Court Usher role. We want to see how you can be a vital link in court proceedings, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant experience!
Show Off Your Communication Skills: Since you'll be interacting with various court users, it's essential to demonstrate your strong communication skills. Use clear and confident language in your application to reflect how you would address court users effectively.
Highlight Your IT Proficiency: As a Court Usher, you'll be using various office and court equipment. Make sure to mention your IT skills and any experience with software that could be relevant. We love seeing attention to detail, especially when it comes to handling court documents!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get you one step closer to joining our team at Plymouth Combined Court!
How to prepare for a job interview at Brook Street
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Court Usher. Familiarise yourself with the tasks mentioned in the job description, such as handling court documents and assisting court users. This will help you demonstrate your knowledge and show that you're genuinely interested in the position.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
As a Court Usher, strong communication skills are essential. During the interview, be prepared to discuss how you've effectively communicated in previous roles. Use examples that highlight your ability to interact with diverse groups, including the judiciary and the public, to showcase your friendly and approachable manner.
✨Demonstrate Your Multi-tasking Ability
The role requires juggling multiple tasks at once, so be ready to share examples of how you've successfully managed competing priorities in past jobs. Discuss specific situations where you had to organise your time efficiently while maintaining attention to detail, especially when dealing with court documents.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in challenging situations. Think about potential scenarios you might face as a Court Usher and how you would handle them. This could include dealing with difficult court users or managing unexpected changes in schedules. Practising these responses will help you feel more confident during the interview.