Court usher

Court ushers make sure everyone involved in a case attends court and knows what to do.

In this guide

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In this role you could:

  • prepare the courtroom
  • greet people entering court
  • check that witnesses, defendants and lawyers are present
  • call defendants and witnesses into court
  • label evidence and pass it to the judge and jury
  • input data to the computer system, handle post, filing and photocopying

Sworn ushers

If you work as a sworn usher in a crown court, you'll also:

  • stop unauthorised people from talking to the jury
  • take the jury to and from the courtroom
  • be on duty outside the jury room
  • take messages between the jury and the judge
  • organise hotels if people on the jury need to stay overnight

Working environment

You could work in a court or in an office.

You may need to wear smart business clothes.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could be in charge of a team of ushers or become a court administrative officer.

You may also be able to work in central or local government.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • administration skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • customer service skills
  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

Most relevant

  • Law - Court ushers work at the heart of the legal system and need to understand court procedures, the roles of judges, juries, lawyers, and defendants, and how cases move through the system. This knowledge helps them manage the courtroom smoothly and ensure everything runs according to proper legal process.
  • English Language - Court ushers communicate with a wide range of people every day – from nervous witnesses to judges and barristers – and need to give clear, calm instructions. They also handle written tasks like filing, correspondence, and inputting accurate information into court records.

Also relevant

  • Business - Court ushers carry out a range of administrative tasks including data entry, filing, handling post, and organising schedules. Understanding how organisations run and how to manage office systems efficiently is a regular part of the role.
  • Psychology - Court ushers deal with people who may be anxious, upset, or under enormous stress – including defendants, witnesses, and jurors. Understanding human behaviour and how to stay calm and supportive in tense situations helps them manage these interactions effectively.
  • Sociology - Court ushers interact with people from all walks of life and need to treat everyone fairly and with respect. An understanding of social structures, inequality, and how the justice system affects different communities helps them carry out their role with sensitivity.
  • Politics - Court ushers work within HM Courts and Tribunals Service, a key part of the UK's government and justice system. Understanding how public institutions are structured and how the legal and political systems connect gives useful context for the role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

You could do a Level 1 Certificate in Business Administration or a Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Business Administration.

This would give you some of the knowledge and skills you would need for this job.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

More Information

You could do a:

  • public service operational delivery officer advanced apprenticeship
  • customer service practitioner intermediate apprenticeship
  • customer service specialist advanced apprenticeship
  • business administrator advanced apprenticeship

These apprenticeships will give you some of the customer service and business admin skills you need to do the job.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

You could apply directly for jobs. You'll usually need at least 2 GCSEs including English at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C).

You may find it easy to get a job as a court usher if you have experience in a similar job like customer service or office administration. Employers will also look at your personal qualities and life experience.

Further information

You can get more details about careers in the courts and tribunals service from HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

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