Court Reporter

The Inside Scoop On A Career As A Court Reporter

Especially because a court reporter not only makes a very substantial salary for themselves, they are in the direct mix of the happenings within a courtroom which in itself, can open up a realm of opportunities for you! A court reporter, also known as a stenographer or a stenotypist, is probably one of the most important jobs in the judicial setting, aside from the judge of course. Without their services, there would be no way to accurately trace and analyze the occurrences that go on during a trial or court hearing.

How to Become a Court Reporter?

In order to become a certified court reporter, there are several different skills that you must not only learn, but master, in order to even be considered for the job. Since it will be your main priority to accurately transcribe legal proceedings and meetings solely by listening and using audio capture technology, you will first need to excel in all of your English and grammar classes.

This is imperative to the success of your career. You will also be required to undergo a distinct amount of on-site training to test and develop your skills and experience. Although the required amount of hours many vary by state, you should expect to spend at least 33 months of training and preparing before you will become a certified court reporter.

Researching Court Reporting Schools

Considering the fact that there are over 120 schools across the United States which offers court reporting training and certifications, you will surely not have an issue finding one to attend. However, do your research first! There are a few different certifications for a court reporter – you’ll want to make sure that you not only understand the differences between these certifications, but that you know which jobs you can obtain by holding each of them as well.

A fully instated court reporter will most likely hold the title “certified court reporter”, have already received their Certificate of Merit from the National Court Reporters Association and can work anywhere as they please. Some of the top schools which offer such a program are the New York Career Institute, Walden University and Bryan College. Each of these schools, amongst others, has various programs which can help you obtain any one of the three main categories for a court reporter.

What Does Court Reporter Training Consist of?

Training for a court reporter can be a pretty diligent and repetitive process. You will endure tons of English and grammar courses despite which school you attend. Since your position will entail listening to court proceedings, you will also need to get familiar with legal terms and jargon from various different industries.

For this reason, many schools have incorporated classes that focus on current events and different industry related issues that statistically appear in court proceedings most often. Be prepared to also take classes on the different types of audio capture technology available.

This will help you grow accustomed to working and maneuvering your way around the stenography machines – which consist of short hand symbols rather than letters. Coursework that covers listening skills will also become part of your daily routine at any school for court reporting certifications.

Life with a Court Reporter Salary

As a certified court reporter, you can enjoy the average salary of approximately $62,000 per year! Since the field is in such a high demand, the income potential is sure to increase over the next few years as well. This is a recession proof industry since a court reporter works basically side by side with a judge.

As long as there are legal proceedings, trials and hearings – there will be a demand for a court reporter as well! The projected demand for a court reporter is said to increase over 25% between now and 2016, making the field a pretty economical choice for the future.

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