At a Glance
- Tasks: Support court operations, assist judges, and manage courtroom preparations.
- Company: Join HM Courts & Tribunals Service at St Albans Crown Court.
- Benefits: Earn £12.21 per hour with pension and holiday pay.
- Why this job: Make a difference in the justice system while gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Good communication skills and customer service experience required.
- Other info: Full-time role with potential for extension and professional growth.
Court Usher – HMCTS (St Albans Crown Court)
Location: St Albans Crown Court
Contract: Full-time, Temporary 2 months with a possible extension
Pay: 12.21 per hour (includes pension & holiday pay)
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm (37 hours/week)
Agency: Brook Street, on behalf of HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS)
Role Overview
We are recruiting a Court Usher to support the smooth operation of court hearings at St Albans Crown Court. This front-line role involves courtroom preparation, assisting judges and legal professionals, and providing administrative support.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare and maintain courtrooms for hearings
- Assist judges and court staff, in person and via Microsoft Teams
- Swear in witnesses and track attendance and supervise jury deliberations when required
- Manage documents: scanning, uploading, photocopying
- Handle scheduling, liaise with parties, and serve legal documents
- Process payments and warrants (including chip & pin use)
- Ensure professional standards of conduct and presentation
- Support with admin duties in the listings team
Requirements and skills
- Good communication and customer service skills, experience working in a customer service is required
- professional to all court users with good timekeeping
- confidence to speak in court publicly
- Comfortable handling sensitive or distressing criminal case material
- Calm, polite, and professional under pressure
- Admin experience
- Confident with Microsoft Office
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Important: Successful candidates will be subject to a thorough background and clearance check, including Criminal Record Checks (DBS Checks), Reference Checks (Employment, Education, and any gaps) covering the past three years, as well as Address checks for the past five years. This process may also include obtaining character references and/or other evidence to cover periods of unemployment.
Due to the high volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of your application, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.
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. Here you will find a link to register your interest and state the role that you are interested in. We are committed to engaging with you.
In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates/military spouses/partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, Brook Street will interview the best candidates from within that group.
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Court Usher - HMCTS employer: Brook Street
Contact Detail:
Brook Street Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Court Usher - HMCTS
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the court environment! Familiarise yourself with the layout and procedures at St Albans Crown Court. This will help you feel more confident when you step in for an interview or even a trial run.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your communication skills! As a Court Usher, you'll need to interact with judges, legal professionals, and the public. Try role-playing scenarios with friends or family to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your admin skills! Brush up on Microsoft Office and any other relevant software. Being tech-savvy can really set you apart from other candidates, so don’t hesitate to highlight this in conversations.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to hear from you directly, so make sure to submit your application online. It’s the best way to ensure your interest is noted and you’re considered for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Court Usher - HMCTS
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Court Usher role. Highlight your customer service experience and any admin skills that match the job description. We want to see how you fit into our team!
Show Off Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves a lot of interaction with judges and court staff, it's crucial to demonstrate your communication skills. Use clear and concise language in your application to show us you can handle the pressure.
Be Professional and Polite: Remember, professionalism is key in a court environment. Make sure your application reflects a calm and polite tone, as this will resonate well with us at StudySmarter and HMCTS.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it makes the process smoother for everyone involved!
How to prepare for a job interview at Brook Street
✨Know the Courtroom Basics
Familiarise yourself with the layout and procedures of a courtroom. Understanding how court hearings operate will help you feel more confident during the interview, especially when discussing your role as a Court Usher.
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
Since this role involves interacting with judges, legal professionals, and the public, be ready to share examples of your customer service experience. Highlight situations where you maintained professionalism under pressure or handled sensitive information.
✨Brush Up on Microsoft Office
As you'll be using Microsoft Teams and other Office applications, make sure you're comfortable with them. You might be asked about your proficiency, so consider mentioning specific tasks you've completed using these tools.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to handle stressful situations, such as managing jury deliberations or dealing with sensitive case material. Think of examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your calmness and professionalism in challenging scenarios.