Clerked

Clerked is the past tense and past participle of the verb clerk. It describes the act of performing the duties associated with a clerk, which can include administrative tasks such as recording transactions, filing documents, answering inquiries, stocking shelves, and assisting customers or clients. The exact duties vary by setting, including retail, offices, or legal environments.

The word clerk derives from Old English cler(e), related to the Latin clericus, historically referring to a literate person or scribe. Over time it broadened to denote a person employed to perform clerical work in offices or to assist in a church or administration. The verb clerk emerged to describe the act of carrying out those duties.

In retail or office settings, someone who clerked at a store would have performed routine transactions, customer service, and administrative tasks. In the legal field, to clerk for a judge is to serve as a law clerk, conducting legal research, drafting memoranda, and assisting with opinions. A person who has clerked may be described as having gained practical experience through this role. Clerking is typically temporary and often pursued by students or graduates seeking professional experience. The term is used in formal and informal contexts, while the past tense clerked marks completed past actions.

See also: clerk, law clerk, clerical work.