Court Reporters – How to become one?

One can become a court reporter through a comprehensive post-secondary court-reporting program. You will learn how to capture the spoken word through a phonetic code with a stenotype machine. Each line of characters in the code represents a sound or syllable.

In addition, a court reporter or an assigned transcriber will translate the code into written text. This will then be used to make a final transcript of the proceeding.

Job Requirements

Proficient knowledge of:

• Principles, methods, techniques, and practices of court shorthand reporting
• Legal and medical terminology and principles
• Solid legal and clerical record-keeping practices and procedures
• Advanced spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, and grammar skills
• Proficiency in the English language
• Proficiency in computer-aided transcription (CAT)
• Appreciation and understanding of legal and business ethics

Court reporters must also:

• Have an above-average shorthand speed and able to operate a stenographic machine at 200 words per minute
• Possess a high level of professionalism
• Skill to read back verbatim records
• Always willing to work independently
• Demonstrate perfect legal clerical work with speed and accuracy
• Focus and concentrate for long periods of time
• Enjoy remaining seated for long periods
• Strong computers skills to operate various equipment like transcription machines, audio equipment, computer terminals, and printers

Of course, there is also a need for candidates to follow oral and written directions to communicate effectively (both orally and in writing). You will maintain good working relationship with coworkers, supervisors, and even to members of the public.

Related Topics

Typical duties of a court reporter

Court reporters who work within a courtroom or legal setting are typically expected to perform the following duties:

1. Likewise, attend legal and other proceedings. These necessitate verbatim official recordings to record meetings, whether formal or informal.
2. Prepare transcripts following standardized known formats.
3. Read back transcripts during courtroom proceedings and trials.
4. Review and certify that printed transcripts are accurate.
5. File transcripts with the county clerk – on time of course!
6. Review court calendars and arrange for other court reporters to provide services whenever necessary.
7. Provide the required court and administrative management support.
8. Take notes during court hearings to record significant events, and locate and present previous testimony.
9. Maintain the calendar for the court or for the judge, and coordinate meetings.
10. Schedule trials and other legal proceedings in cooperation with the clerk of court.
11. Perform clerk duties, which include marking documents, administering oaths, maintaining logs, maintaining forms, transferring stenographic files, and transmitting notes to authorized personnel for their reference.
12. Furthermore, just perform administrative tasks, such as answering phones, maintaining law library, preparing expense vouchers, and purchasing office supplies.

Job description

In conclusion, court reporters basically perform the same job, their job description may differ. Thanks to the fact that majority of court reporting programs offer a comprehensive course – including computer-aided transcription, real-time reporting, closed captioning, and deposition/courtroom procedures – trained court reporters can also serve in other different capacities within the profession.

So, a court reporter’s title and capacity may differ, depending on the technology being used or the employer’s needs. One’s job description can be any of these:

• Judicial or official court reporting. The job involves taking records of depositions, court proceedings, and administrative hearings. It can entail stenograph court reporting or writing. The job can be on a freelance basis or an employee position. Court operates in the federal, state, and local agency levels. In addition, a court reporter employed in this capacity works exclusively for one court or one judge.
• Closed or broadcast captioning. The job involves work for broadcast programming. including news programs, talk shows, and sports programs for local television stations, national broadcast networks, or TV and movie studios.
• Real-time captioning. The job involves providing real-time captioning for live sports events, television broadcasts, weather disasters and emergencies, and other events. Unlike closed captioning, real-time captioning service is more demanding, as court reporters are required to provide transcripts during live events.
• Communications Access Real-time (CART) Reporting. The job involves providing specialized services for hard-of-hearing or deaf people in live situations, such as cultural presentations, college classes, lectures, speeches, religious services, seminars, and civic events. CART reporting involves stenography using computer-aided transcription programs for quick translation. The transcription is then transmitted to a large screen.
• To clarify, the job involves providing real-time reporting services for events that are Internet-based, including corporate sales meetings, product launchings, trainings, seminars, and press conferences.
• Electronic or digital reporting. This new method of reporting, which is growing in popularity, is typically used in courtroom settings. The job involves the use of digital audio equipment designed to record court proceedings. Court reporters providing this service monitor the recording as it happens. After the proceeding, they will view the transcript using a computer software, then make necessary corrections or edits to the final transcript.

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