Court Reporter Career and Industry Overview

Court reporters record word for word, reports of speeches, meetings, legal proceedings and various situations where it is vital that a written transcript of what was discussed is needed for records, legal proof or correspondence purposes.In court proceedings and meetings involving legal proceedings, court reporters play an important role in maintaining a written report of exchanged words.In addition to providing complete and accurate written legal records, court reporters may be required to help trial lawyers and judges find and organize information needed for official records.Court reporter's responsibilities also include making closed-captioning and real time translating services available to those suffering from hearing related conditions.Career opportunities are not strictly in the courtroom; reporters may also work in attorney's offices.Law office position responsibilities include taking record of depositions, conference calls, or meetings.There is also a need for court reporters at Government agencies, from the U.S. Congress to the local government.These agencies utilize court reporters for their stenotyping and voice writing skills.

Training and Qualifications

The training may vary depending on what type of reporting will be done.Voice writing training may be completed in as little as one year, while stenotyping programs may last up to three years.Training is offered at various postsecondary vocational and technical schools and colleges.The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) and the Federal Government requires that students in training are able to record a minimum of 25 words per minute.Different states also have different requirements, for instance, a few states require that court reporters also be notary publics.Some states have their own certification exam that is administered by the state board of examiners.Others states provide state licensure upon completion of an exam.Good listening skills are imperative to being a successful court reporter.To accurately record what is said, court reporters must be proficient and skilled in grammar, vocabulary and punctuation.Understanding legal terminology and being knowledgeable about criminal and appellate proceedings is also important.

Types and Specializations

There are two main types of court reporting; stenotyping and voice writing.In stenotyping, all court proceeding records are made by using a stenotype machine.This stenotype machine allows a stenotypist to push a number of keys at once to note a combination of letters that signify whole phrases, sounds or individual words.A computer then translates and presents the stenotyped symbols as text.Due to the fact there is only one court reporter in each proceeding, it is imperative that they be completely accurate.Court appeals regularly refer to the court reporter's transcript so any small mistake can be detrimental.Voice writing is the second type of court reporting.When using this particular method, the reporter holds a type of mask that includes a microphone and voice silencer, and speaks directly into it.The mask and voice silencer enables the reporter to repeat statements without being heard.Silence is important because the reporter documents everything including gestures, expressions and emotions of the person speaking.Voice writing can be recorded in real time and then translated into text by a computer.

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