For those with strong listening abilities and a tendency to recall and remember things, as well as great writing skills and an interest in the legal field, a career in court reporting can be a very apt one. What Do Court Reporters Do? Court reporters write word-by-word transcriptions of court proceedings and public events. Their work even involves reporting gestures and actions, and preparing transcripts for record-keeping purposes. They work …
For those with strong listening abilities and a tendency to recall and remember things, as well as great writing skills and an interest in the legal field, a career in court reporting can be a very apt one.
What Do Court Reporters Do?
Court reporters write word-by-word transcriptions of court proceedings and public events. Their work even involves reporting gestures and actions, and preparing transcripts for record-keeping purposes. They work with specialized equipment for recording proceedings, such as stenotype machines (allowing court reporters to press more than one key at a time), steno masks (which are covered microphones so that the reporter can’t be heard) and digital recording equipment.
What Degrees In Court Reporting Are Available?
The typical degrees offered for people who wish to pursue a career in this field include the following:
Undergraduate or Postsecondary Certificates –
6 months to 1 year
Associate’s Degree –
2 years
Bachelor’s Degree –
4 years
Programs for court reporting vary depending on the transcription method being studied. Specializations in using steno masks and digital recording last about 6 months, leading to a certificate. Programs for stenography, on the other hand, last about 2-4 years.
What Courses Are Included In The Curriculum?
As part of your Court Reporting Degree, you’ll be taught various courses related to criminal justice and court reporting.
Some of these are as follows:
Writing or Communication
Legal Terminology
Criminal Law
Court Transcription
Machine Shorthand Theory
Medical Terminology
Which Industries Are Some Common Employers For Court Reporters?
Work environment for court reporters goes beyond the typical courtroom. Some industries where court reporter may be employed include:
Federal and State Courts
Network TV Stations providing captioning services
Deposition Firms
Law Firms
Legislators’ Offices
Business events such as conventions and seminars
What Are Some Career Options For Court Reporters?
Court reporters can choose from various occupations. They can become official courtroom reporters, free lance reporters for attorneys or businesses, and judicial reporters. They may even work outside the legal field, for example, as Medical Transcriptionists, Broadcast Captioners, or provide Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART) services to deaf or hard-of-hearing clients.
Salary And Job Outlook
The BLS estimates the 2010 median annual pay for court reporters at $47,700. Jobs in this field are expected to grow by 14% between 2010 and 2020, which is as fast as the average for all other occupations.
If court reporting is the career for you, get enrolled in an Online Court Reporting Degree today.
