The Texas Legislature, the Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Texas Municipal Courts Association (TMCA) recognize the importance of training and allocating funds for the continuing education of municipal court personnel. Annual court clerk education is not currently required by the state, however, TMCEC is pleased to offer court personnel the following annual programs to further continuing education and professionalism in municipal courts in Texas.
Regional Clerks Seminar
The TMCEC Regional Clerks Seminars feature sessions addressing a wide range of both legal and practical issues. Participants can earn up to 16 hours of clerk certification credit by attending the 12-hour conference and the optional 4-hour special session. This seminar helps provide a foundation for building clerks’ knowledge of municipal court practices. It also helps promote a better understanding of the justice system and the laws that municipal courts must uphold.
Note that court clerks may only attend one TMCEC regional conference each academic year. Space permitting, a court clerk may attend an additional program within the same academic year at their own expense.
New Clerks Seminar
The New Clerks Seminar is for clerks who are either new to the role of court clerk or have never attended the seminar. This program offers fundamental classes on court procedures, from filing a complaint to the final disposition of a case and enforcing judgments. Classes include The Role of the Clerk, Legal Ethics, Charging Criminal Offenses, State Reporting, Handling Records Requests, and Judgments, Indigence, and Enforcement.
Many clerks are unaware that the Code of Judicial Conduct requires them to observe the same standards of fidelity and diligence that are required of judges. This program helps clerks perform their jobs more effectively and accurately.
This event is held twice each academic year. Please register early to guarantee your place in the program, as these events fill up quickly and often have waiting lists. Individuals primarily working in other roles, such as bailiffs, prosecutors, and city staff, are not permitted to register for this event.
Level III Assessment Clinic
Those interested in becoming a Certified Municipal Court Clerk (CMCC), must attend a 24-hour Level III Assessment Clinic sponsored by TMCEC. The clinic is designed as a workshop which emphasizes the development of skills in court management and human resources. The purpose of the clinic is to build mastery and confidence in performance of management duties and become better prepared for providing efficient oversight of court operations. Participants can expect to practice collaborative problem solving, presentations, and public speaking.
To accomplish these goals, the program is typically limited to 25 or fewer participants. Participants are encouraged to make self-assessments of their own management and human resources skills.
Participation in the Assessment Clinic is one of several requirements to complete Level III. Prior to attending the clinic, participants need not have completed the Level III exam or observation process; however, clerks must be Level II Certified in good standing.
EXAM: Prior to the Clinic, an exam will be offered for all Clerk Certification Levels. To register for the exam, and for more information, visit the TCCA website at https://www.texascourtclerks.org.
Court Administrators Seminar
This conference is designed to develop the administrators’ knowledge of both law and court management fundamentals. This conference is also integrated into the Level III requirements of the Court Clerks Certification Program. Level III emphasizes building a more in-depth and supervisory level of knowledge of the court system. The program is not limited to clerks and court administrators who are supervisors but is also open to all who want to achieve a Level III certification and designation as a Certified Municipal Court Clerk. Court administrators who are not participating in the certification program may also attend.