In the modern-day legal system, court reporting is vital in communication assistance between lawyers and judges who need the availability of information for legal matters or a trial they may be working on. The information must be recorded precisely, accurately, and quickly in a live situation either in a court room, meeting between legal entities, judges' chambers, or lawyers' offices, even in a non-legal situation such as board room of a corporation.
Court reporting is not just simply being a typist, but requires specialized training. This position requires not only very good typing skills and computer knowledge, but also excellent skills in organization. As a court reporter you will be documenting precise records of a court proceeding and/or those at a meeting. You may also be asked to take a deposition in a meeting at a lawyer's office or judge's chambers.
There are several different areas of court reporting and you will need to decide which of these areas you want to specialize in. The training varies since the methods of court reporting vary wildly. While some may learn on the job, most study for and get a degree in their chosen area.
1. Stenography: verbal communication reporting requires using a stenotype machine which actually produces shorthand. The demand for people who have the knowledge to use this machine far exceeds the number of people trained. More than one key is used and each key has a symbol to represent a key phrase.
2. Electronic reporting: using digital, audio, and visual equipment to record court proceedings.
3. Voice recording: verbal transcription of a deposition or trial. A voice writer repeats each word verbatim into a microphone to be recorded digitally while using a hand-held mask which acts as a silencer. Sometimes proficiency is needed by both a voice writer and a stenographer at the same time.
It is essential that you get a degree in court reporting. The type of degree is certainly dependant on the choice you make in one or more of the different areas of court reporting. A degree in voice recording, as an example, can be completed in one year, while the steno typists' degree takes around thirty-three months to complete and get a degree. Usually court reporting requires a two-year associate's degree. A student not only needs to be proficient in the technology of the career, but also in the legal terminology and with additional aspects of the legal field. Certification obtained from “The National Court Reporters” is much preferred by most employers.
The requirements to become a court reporter differ from state to state, so you need to find out the requirements in your state by contacting your state's justice department for this information. You can also contact “The National Court Reporters Association”; each state has its own association. And it is a great source of information on how to become a court reporter. You can obtain information on training, making court reporting a career, and more.
As a court reporter you can freelance (be an independent contractor) and choose your own hours, workload, and schedules. Travel to different lawyers' offices or even work directly in the judicial or court system taking depositions and transcribing the proceedings accurately. You can also work in a non-legal capacity for organizations in need of accurate transcription support in meetings, arbitration hearings, and other events. A court reporter who transcribes proceedings from recordings can work from home and can even find transcription assignments online.
Court reporting is an exciting, interesting, and challenging career for those who want to experience this kind of career. It only takes action on your part to begin. Pick a school—either brick and mortar or a school that offers online courses. This career offers lucrative financial benefits, availability, challenges, and a solid future. You can always increase your abilities by getting a degree in more than one area of court reporting.
