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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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42200.05 – Justice of the peace

Justices of the peace administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summonses and warrants and perform other court-related duties such as conducting bail hearings.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Justice of the peace
  • Presiding justice of the peace

Core competencies

  • Critical Thinking, Decision Making and Problem Solving to analyze complex legal situations, evaluate evidence, apply legal principles appropriately and make fair, impartial decisions
  • Oral Communication: Active Listening to accurately understand the arguments and testimonies presented by parties during hearings
  • Problem Identification and Inductive Reasoning to review evidence and arguments presented to draw logical conclusions and decide if the requirements for warrants, summonses or subpoenas are met
  • Verbal Ability and Speech Clarity to effectively communicate and ensure all parties understand court instructions, legal decisions and procedural requirements
  • Attention to Detail to ensure all legal documents, such as subpoenas and warrants, are correctly prepared and issued
  • Knowledge in Law to understand legal principles and precedents to ensure judicial actions are legally valid and protect the rights of all parties involved

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Issue subpoenas, summonses and warrants, including search warrants
  • Receive affidavits, declarations and affirmations
  • Administer oaths
  • Conduct bail hearings
  • Release defendants on judges' orders and explain rights and obligations
  • Hear evidence at trials on summary conviction offences and may preside over trials of criminal offences at the discretion of the chief judge of the jurisdiction or as provided for in federal, provincial or territorial statutes
  • Perform civil marriages
  • Register wills, probate, bankruptcy, etc.

Additional information

  • The duties and responsibilities of justices of the peace vary significantly depending on the level of their authority. They may be employed part-time on a fee-for-service basis in small communities. Their duties range from performing civil marriages, receiving affidavits and similar documents, to presiding in courts and hearing and determining prosecutions under provincial/territorial and federal laws.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Lawyers and Quebec notaries (41101)
  • Legal administrative assistants (13111)
  • Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers (41400)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

4 – Occupations in education, law and social, community and government services

TEER

2 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of two or more years; or supervisory occupations

Major group

42 – Front-line public protection services and paraprofessional occupations in legal, social, community, education services

Sub-major group

422 – Paraprofessional occupations in legal, social, community and education services

Minor group

4220 – Paraprofessional occupations in legal, social, community and education services

Unit group

42200 – Paralegals and related occupations

Occupational profile

42200.05 – Justice of the peace

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.