Canada-wide Analysis of Official Language Training Needs in the Area of Justice
Technical Report: Analysis of Socio-Professional Data

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3.0 Analysis of data by occupation

In this section, we will present the profile of each of the occupations retained. We will first provide the description of each occupational category, then we will indicate the main facts from the data taken from the corresponding table. The tables are all found in Appendix A.

3.1 Justices of the peace and court officers (B317)

According to the NOC-S, court officers coordinate the administrative and procedural functions of federal, provincial and territorial courts, including scheduling trials and overseeing the maintenance of court records. Justices of the peace administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summonses and warrants, and perform other court-related duties such as conducting bail hearings. They work in federal and provincial courts. This category includes the following occupations:

• Administrator of the court
• Administrator, court
• Court administrator
• Commissioner of affidavits
• Commissioner of marriages
• Coordinator of court services
• Assistant deputy registrar – courts
• Assistant registrar – courts
• Clerk of the court
• Court clerk supervisor
• Court officer
• Court supervisor
• Courtroom officer
• Justice of the peace
• Registrar of bankruptcy
• Supreme Court registrar

Table A1 in the Appendix presents the profile of this occupational category. Notably, only 16% of employees in this category indicate they could have a conversation in the minority language (French), whereas in Quebec, the rate is 55% for the ability to have a conversation in English. A total of 555 justices of the peace and court officers outside Quebec have knowledge of French and 595 in Quebec have knowledge of English. It is interesting to note that British Columbia has 70 justices of the peace and court officers with knowledge of French, and Ontario, 380. Also of note, 68% of justices of the peace and court officers work in the provincial and territorial governments.

3.2 Court clerks (B543)

According to the NOC-S, court clerks perform support functions in courts of law, such as calling court to order, preparing court dockets and maintaining exhibits. Court clerks work in federal and provincial courts. This category includes the following occupations:

• Clerk, court
• Court clerk
• Clerk-crier, court
• Criminal court clerk
• Provincial court clerk

Table A2 in the Appendix presents the profile of this occupational category. Notably, only 13% of the employees in this category are able to have a conversation in French, whereas in Quebec, the rate is 55% for the ability to have a conversation in English. A total of 355 court clerks outside Quebec have knowledge of French and 350 in Quebec have knowledge of English. It is interesting to note that Ontario has 230 court clerks with knowledge of French. Lastly, three-quarters (74%) of court clerks work in the provincial and territorial governments.

3.3 Judges (E011)

According to the NOC-S, judges adjudicate civil and criminal cases and administer justice in courts of law. They preside over federal and provincial courts. This category includes the following occupations:

• Provincial court of appeal justice
• County court judge
• District court judge
• Small claims court justice
• Superior court justice
• Court of Queen's Bench justice
• Federal Court justice – trial division
• Supreme Court justice
• Family court judge
• Chief justice

Table A3 in the Appendix presents the profile for this occupational category. Notably, 29% of judges in Canada are able to have a conversation in French, whereas 88% of judges in Quebec can converse in English. A total of 550 judges have knowledge of French outside Quebec and 630 judges have knowledge of English in Quebec. It is interesting to note that Ontario has 235 judges with knowledge of French, Alberta, 75 and British Columbia, 80. Of note, 59% of the judges work for the provincial and territorial courts and 38% for the federal courts.

3.4 Lawyers and Quebec notaries (E012)

According to the NOC-S, lawyers (across Canada) and Quebec notaries advise their clients on legal matters, represent them before administration boards and draw up legal documents such as contracts and wills. Lawyers also plead cases andrepresent clients before tribunals and conduct prosecutions in courts of law. Lawyers work in law firms and prosecutor's offices. Quebec notaries work in notary offices. Both lawyers (across Canada) and Quebec notaries work in the federal, provincial and municipal governments, and for various business establishments, or they may be self-employed. Articling students are included in this group. This category includes the following occupations:

• Articling student
• Associate lawyer
• Corporate counsel
• Counsel
• Crown attorney
• Crown prosecutor
• General counsel
• Law partner
• Legal advisor
• Notary (Quebec)
• Prosecutor

Table A4 in the Appendix presents a profile of this occupational category. Notably, 25% of lawyers and notaries in Canada are able to have a conversation in French, whereas 83% of lawyers and Quebec notaries can converse in English. A total of 13,715 lawyers outside Quebec have knowledge of French, and 15,365 in Quebec have knowledge of English. It is interesting to note that almost all the provinces and territories have a considerable number of lawyers and notaries with knowledge of French: Ontario -8,945; British Columbia -1,830; Alberta -1,280; New Brunswick -590; and the other Atlantic provinces -510. Of note, 84% of lawyers and notaries work in the private sector, 10% for the provincial and territorial governments and 5% for the federal government.

3.5 Paralegal and related occupations (E211)

According to the NOC-S, legal assistants and paralegals prepare legal documents, maintain records and files and conduct research for lawyers or other professionals. Notaries public administer oaths, take affidavits, sign legal documents and perform other activities according to the limitations of their appointment. Trademark agents advise clients on intellectual property matters. Independent paralegals provide legal services to the public as allowed by government legislation, or provide paralegal services on contract to law firms or other establishments. Legal assistants and paralegals are employed by law firms, by record search companies and in legal departments throughout the public and private sectors. Independent paralegals are usually self-employed. Trademark agents are employed by law firms and legal departments throughout the public and private sectors, trademark development and search firms or they may be self-employed. Notaries public are employed by government and in the public and private sectors or they may be self-employed. This category includes the following occupations:

• Clerk, law
• Commercial law clerk
• Copyright agent
• Corporate paralegal
• Family law paralegal
• Independent paralegal
• Land titles examiner
• Legal assistant
• Litigation legal assistant
• Notary public
• Paralegal
• Real estate law clerk
• Researcher, legal
• Title examiner

Table A5 in the Appendix presents a profile of this occupational category. Notably, only 12% of paralegals in Canada are able to have a conversation in French, whereas in Quebec, 68% are able to converse in English. A total of 3,595 paralegals outside Quebec have knowledge of French and 3,060 in Quebec have knowledge of English. It is interesting to note that Ontario has 2,400 paralegals with knowledge of French, Alberta, 440 and British Columbia, 420. Of note, 85% of paralegals work in the private sector.

3.6 Sheriffs and bailiffs (G621)

According to the NOC-S, sheriffs and bailiffs enforce court orders, warrants and writs, participate in the seizure and sale of property and perform courtroom and other related duties. Bailiffs serve legal orders and documents, seize or repossess properties, evict tenants and perform other related activities. Sheriffs and bailiffs work in provincial and territorial courts. Bailiffs might work as officers of the court or in the private sector as agents for creditors. This category includes the following occupations:

• Bailiff
• Deputy sheriff
• Sheriff
• Sheriff's bailiff
• Sheriff's officer

Table A6 in the Appendix presents a profile of this occupational category. Notably, only 9% of sheriffs and bailiffs in Canada are able to have a conversation in French, whereas 63% of sheriffs and bailiffs in Quebec can converse in English. A total of 165 sheriffs and bailiffs outside Quebec have knowledge of French and 440 in Quebec have knowledge of English. It is interesting to note that the Atlantic provinces (except New Brunswick), Alberta and British Columbia each have thirty some sheriffs and bailiffs with knowledge of French. We note that close to half of the sheriffs and bailiffs work for the provincial and territorial governments and 39% in the private sector.

3.7 Probation and parole officers and related occupations (E025)

According to the NOC-S, probation officers monitor the conduct and behaviour of criminal offenders on probation. Parole officers monitor the reintegration of criminal offenders serving the remainder of sentences while conditionally released into the community on parole. Classification officers assess inmates and develop rehabilitation programs for criminal offenders incarcerated in correctional facilities. They are employed by the federal and provincial governments and work in the community and in correctional facilities. This category includes the following occupations:

• Case management worker – corrections
• Classification officer, correctional institution
• Parole officer
• Probation officer
• Youth worker – corrections

Table A7 in the Appendix presents a profile of this occupational category. Notably, only 14% of probation and parole officers in Canada are able to have a conversation in French, whereas 59% of officers in Quebec have knowledge of English. A total of 680 probation and parole officers outside Quebec have knowledge of French and 505 in Quebec have knowledge of English. It is interesting to note that Ontario has 370 probation and parole officers with knowledge of French and British Columbia, 105. We note that 62% of probation and parole officers work for provincial and territorial governments and 36% for the federal government.

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