The Clerk of the Peace was the chief officer of the quarter sessions, most of whose duties were performed by his deputy. A trained lawyer, the Clerk of the Peace advised on points of law, took minutes of proceedings and was responsible for the custody of all documents of the courts.

A statute of 1361 stated that a clerk was to "assist the justices assembled in Quarter Sessions in drawing indictments, arraigning prisoners, joining issue for the Crown, entering their judgements, awarding their process and marking up and keeping their records". The Clerk of the Peace's duties were to serve the Justices in their administrative and judicial work and to prepare and file the records produced.

The Clerk held the post for life, and received a small official salary for his attendance at the sessions. He could also claim fees from individuals for work carried out on their behalf within the sessions (his main remuneration), and money from court funds for each action carried out in his official capacity. The post was abolished in 1972.