specialist

court clerk

custodian

juvenile correctional officer

maintenance technician

Massachusetts Trial Court

This review is solely based off my experience working at Newburyport District and Superior Courts. As an Associate Court Officer (ACO) you will be operating the x-ray machine, metal detector, garret wand and pat downs at the front door. For the first few weeks (only applies to District, you will not be sent to Superior until you are familiar with your role as an ACO) you will be assisted by another Court Officer (CO) until you fully understand how to properly scan visitors and their property. As an ACO you are also the information desk. Although District is small, you will need to know the role of each office (Probation, Clerks, District Attorney, Juvenile Probation, Law Library, Jury room), in order to send visitors to the correct office. Do your job to the best of your abilities and stay out of the workplace drama. Word spreads fast in this courthouse so be careful what you say. Although I had been given the opportunity to attend the Court Officer academy while only on the job for a few months, I declined and had begun looking for a different career. What led to this decision was how poor the management was. I understand the Chief Court Officer has the power to make decisions, however, I felt that she had often abused her right. To summarize, if you want to work as front door security at a courthouse without much foot traffic, poor management that lacks leadership qualities, and nonstop gossiping drama then this is the perfect place for you.

As a per diem, contract  interpreter  for the Massachusetts Trial Court System, I travel to many courts and work in District, Probate, Civil, Juvenile, and/or Housing Courts. 

In addition, I am contacted for out of court assignments after court hours by Public Defenders and private attorneys.

It is truly a fascinating job; however, it would be awesome to receive benefits, paid holidays, sick time, and vacation time. 

I have learned to function under strenuous conditions, such as for jury trials, for inmates and their attorneys , and/or probation officers, for Restraining Orders Sessions, etc.

I very much enjoy seeing,  and occasionally collaborating with, my colleagues.

We each receive our schedules for the upcoming week [subject to change], and it's always fun to open the Email to learn where and when we will be scheduled.

We interact  regularly with schedulers out of the Boston based Office of Court Interpreter Services, and aside from them, we are for the most part independent contractors.

We fill out invoices, called DSR's, in order to get paid for each court we attend, and submit them by mail. 

I very much enjoy working as a court interpreter, but would appreciate receiving a regular paycheck. The hardest part of the job is waiting to get paid.

What is the best part of working at the company?
I enjoy working at the Edward Brooks Courthouse in Boston.  I was given the opportunity to fill a position in a pilot program and I feel that I have learned many interesting things that concern the trial courts concerning the judicial system I was unaware of.  I feel as though I have been an asset in my position as a Courthouse Greeter.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
I do not feel any stress at the court.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Serious and professional but also a willingness to be of assistance in whatever capacity is possible legally, physically and compassionately.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Upon arriving at my post checking emails and getting ready paperwork I need to input into the courts computer system , but also as soon as doors are opened for business , attending to whomever comes to me for assistance in determining where they need to be by way of paperwork they may have on hand or inspecting the lists i am given daily with docket numbers and names for the cases being heard for the day.

This is a place that I would not recommend for anyone to work. I worked hard to get to work there only to be completely disappointed. While my coworkers were professional upper management showed otherwise. There was no structure and no training for the newcomers. While on the job training can prove beneficial to others, we all were struggling because different answers were given.

Also, management had no idea what they were doing and felt to talk to you like you were a child. They too, had no idea what they were doing. These jobs are politically motivated and they will stop at nothing to get rid of you even if you stand up for yourself for the wrongs that they are doing.

The Register, Assistant Register, and 1st Assistant Register do not have a grasp on that department and do not recommend anyone to waste their time working there.


I had to quit because even God could not save the Registry of Probate department.

Best job I ever had was with the Trial Court. Courtroom Sessions Clerk specifically. I had the best Boss ever. Very supportive.  Allowed me to make mistakes, learn and grow.  Great Mentor!! I also enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the Trial Court.  Always busy. 

Workplace culture was what you made of it.  The best thing for me was remaining independent of politics, cliques and gossip.  It helps to remain friends with everyone. take no sides. I found it helped in my everyday growth and development.

I really have no "Hardest" part of the job to report.  As I said, I loved this job.  I began as an introductory level Procedures Clerk (Case Coordinator now), I was Promoted to Courtroom Sessions Clerk, Then to Office Manager.

I retired from the Court after 10 years in order to pursue a full-time military job with full Active Duty benefits and entitlements which at the time was a great move for my family.

Days are unpredictable which makes it a learning day every day. That for me is a good day every day. It was hard for me to learn that although the Courts say they are very much appreciate your work, and that the LEPs were also appreciative of my work, I did not receive a raise in more that 10 years. Management wasn't perfect but was certainly very good. I always felt management was on my side and I was very grateful for that. The culture from Court to Court varies a great deal, however in general, there is good camaraderie in courthouses. The hardest part of the job was not being able to help some people despite all the efforts of the system and the persons willing to help. The most enjoyable part was the many thank-you's I received. The instant reward I receive when I am able to see that an LEP understands and is ready to move on thanks to the new information he or she has.

Working in this particular capacity could be very trying at times. Typically, I would assist litigants with the filing of complaints, maintaining the dockets for the various cases for the judge, make copies of complaint forms for the litigants, and issue certificates for litigants for closed cases. 

Management was a bit of a mess simply because there were too many people to report to and take directions from. When the directions would conflict, it made it very difficult to know exactly what to do. Some of my coworkers could have a bit of an attitude problem, but mostly they were very pleasant to work with. Everyone would get a bit territorial about their case files and work spaces, but that could be easily understood.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Work is meaningful and often interesting.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Believe it or not, abusive management

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
In court it's fine 75% of the time. The other 25% has to do with the objective difficulty of the situations you encounter, and with the challenges inherent in working with lots of people.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
It largely depends on the courthouse(s) you are working. If you are in Chelsea, a very intense day is to be expected. If you are in Charlestown, you cna expect a slow morning. And so on

What is the best part of working at the company?
I loved the job and worked incredibly hard at it. I always came in early and helped everyone as much as I could . I was 68 years old working at something I’d always wanted to do but my lack of clerical and computer skills were my downfall. Unfortunately I was let go a few months after I started . I would highly recommend working for the Trial Court system to anyone interested in law . Thank you . 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Producing files, docs etc at a moments notice .

What is the best part of working at the company?
Excellent place to work, Union, excellent benefits. Very good working environment.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Depending what court location, depends on the work  load.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Friendly, and the culture is very family oriented.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day there is usually planned, but could be thrown off by new arrest or walk-ins.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Specialist 3 salaries reported	$49,745 per year
Court clerk 31 salaries reported	$91,589 per year
Custodian 22 salaries reported	$48,776 per year
Juvenile correctional officer 8 salaries reported	$55,887 per year
Maintenance technician 11 salaries reported	$59,808 per year

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