Court reporting is all about capturing and recording verbatim, relevant proceedings occurring in Courts of Law including speeches, conversations, legal proceedings and meetings. This is done at speeds in excess of 200 WPM using technology like stenograph machines and voice writing equipment. This is required for correspondence, legal records, transcribing depositions and evidentiary proof. Closed captioning and real-time translation services to deaf and hard-of-hearing community are also offered by court reporting.

In most cases, formal qualifications are considered necessary for court reporters. There are several programs of 2-4 years for aspiring students in court reporting. They cover machine shorthand, English, vocabulary, law and legal terminology, computer aided transcription and keyboarding. Certifications can also be acquired with some states asking specific certifications. Active listening, speed of recording, accuracy, desire to learn and flexible scheduling are skills required for effective court reporting.

The job outlook as per Bureau of Labor Statistics is encouraging with growth projected at 25% faster than average for other professions through 2016. On successful completion of programs in court reporting, several opportunities open up like official court reporter, freelance court reporter, real-time court reporter, television broadcast captionist, rapid text entry business specialist and scopist. The median annual earnings of court reporters stood at $45,610 in May 2006. Salaries can vary based on education, experience, location and employer.

Courses in court reporting are offered by University of Phoenix and ITT Technical Institute. Both have an excellent track record in imparting quality education. American InterContinental University and Walden University are premier institutions that offer court reporting programs. The former focuses on courses designed on a real world approach whereas the latter helps students gain skills and knowledge required in this profession. Setting equally high standards as the others in this group is Kaplan University offering flexible learning to students and staff alike.

Most of the people when think of working in legal field generally think of becoming a judge or a lawyer. For all those people who are looking to establish themselves in legal field must not overlook other job opportunities. One of the careers which are often overlooked by aspirants is Court reporter.

The work of the court reporter consists of creating transcripts for legal proceedings, conversations, meetings and various other situations that need a documented account to serve as a legal verification. His main work is to maintain accurate and complete record of testimony so that it can be used as legal binding record. The court reporters may have to work at trials, depositions, assist attorneys and judges when looking for information and give translation services for deaf people.

Kinds of Court Reporting

Stenography: A stenography machine is used by a court reporter to record testimony verbatim and speeches. The court reporter will press number of keys at one time to record combinations or letters that represents words, phrase and sounds. The symbols are electronically recorded and are translated after completion of a legal session.

Voice writing: The court reporter has to speak in a microphone with a mask. The mask makes sure that no unwanted sounds interfere at the time of recording. Voice writer records whatever is said by the attorneys, judges and witnesses. They also record reactions and gestures.

Duties of a court reporter:

Using shorthand to take down the full verbatim account of witness testimony, verbal proof and the message may be read back when requested in the court room. Making notes after a court room session. Checking accuracy of the notes prepared. Correction of grammar and spellings, add missing words, vocabulary, and creating the final transcript after edition. Sending the transcribed copy document for approval to the judge before making a final transcript.

Qualifications

In order to become a court reporter you need to have excellent keyboard skills. You should be able to type more than 200 words a minute you must possess experience in machine and written shorthand. You must also possess great grammar and spelling skills.

There are several educational institutions that offer degrees on court reporting. Basically, it takes around a year to complete the course of a voice writer but electronic reporters gain their skills in their job training. To become a steno-typist, it takes around 33 months.

Some of the personal skills that are required in court reporting careers are:

1. Working accurately and rapidly
2. Excellent communication and listening skills
3. Patience and confidence
4. Clear voice
5. Great concentration skills
6. Being able to meet stiff deadlines

If you are interested in working for the legal firms and organizing various legal proceedings, meeting and events then you should choose a career as a Court reporter.

A court reporter basically makes verbatim transcripts of conversations, speeches, meetings, legal proceedings and various other events. Sometimes it is important to have written accounts of the things spoken for legal proof or records, correspondence, and the court reporters are responsible for such records. The court reporters play an important role not just in the judicial proceedings but also at different meetings where the words spoken have to be recorded and preserved as a transcript. They have to make sure that the record secured is accurate, complete and legal.

Apart from maintaining records they also have to help trial attorneys and judges in different ways like searching and organizing information or giving suggestions to the attorneys and judges regarding the procedures and administration of the courtroom. Now, the court reporters also offer real time translating and closed captioning services to deaf and dumb communities.

In order to become a court reporter you need to earn a court reporter degree. The job opportunities available for court reporters are expected to increase in different countries. The individuals with certifications and specialization in CART, webcasting services and broadcasting captioning can make a great career in this field. As per the job market analysis, very few people are entering as stenographic typists in this profession.

There are many careers in court reporting. The most common career is stenographic typists. The employment opportunities in this occupation are expected to grow 25% faster as compared to other occupations. The demand for the court reporters is going to increase due to the growing need to make captions of prerecorded or live TV and to provide translating services for the dumb and deaf communities. The voice writers are also widely in demand due to the problem faced in hiring workers and the improvement in the accuracy of speech recognition technology. Also Federal legislation has made it mandatory that all the TV programs must be captioned for dumb and deaf people. Also Americans that are disabled have the right to ask for real time translation services in their colleges and universities.

Compensation methods of the court reporters differ with the experience, job type, and the level of court reporter degree achieved. Official court reporters earn per page fees or a particular salary. CART providers earn on hourly basis. Freelance court reporters are paid per page fees for the transcripts they record or write. Court reporters make an average salary of $42000 per year. Taking up working as a Court reporter as a career is a great option as with growing experience and qualification an individual can increase his salary too.

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