EMPHASIS IS ON THE USE OF AN INTERACTIVE GROUP PROCESS (NOMINAL GROUP PROCESS), WHICH WOULD INVOLVE THE TOTAL POPULATION OF CLERKS. DATA COLLECTED THROUGH THIS PROCESS WOULD BE COMPLEMENTED BY SURVEY DATA FROM CLERKS AND ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES ON PERCEPTIONS OF THE CLERK'S ROLE. THIS FIVE-STAGE PROCESS WOULD INVOLVE TWO ONE-DAY MEETINGS WITH THE CLERKS AND A ONE-DAY MEETING WITH A PLANNING COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANALYZING SURVEY AND MEETING RESULTS, COURT SYSTEM READINESS AND SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS. PRODUCTS OF THIS ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY WILL INCLUDE A STATISTICAL PROFILE OF CLERKS, DEPUTY AND ASSISTANT CLERKS, AND CLERICAL ASSISTANTS BY COURT AND LOCATION AND A COMPILATION OF THE CLERKS' LEGAL DUTIES. THESE ARE APPENDED ALONG WITH SAMPLE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES FOR ASSESSING THE PERCEIVED ROLE OF CLERKS, THEIR BACKGROUND, FUNCTIONS, AND EDUCATION/TRAINING PREFERENCES....ELW