Career Spotlight: Court Reporting Is A High Paying Career

If you have an interest in the legal profession but do not see yourself attending the many, many years of law school, becoming a court reporter may be a very viable and interesting as well as rewarding career choice in the legal field.

"So what exactly is a court reporter?" You may be asking yourself. Court reporters are responsible for making sure that all legal proceedings are recorded, including the spoken words and, from time to time, the written transcripts. These types of transcripts are made available to jurors, attorneys, and other legal personnel and serve as official records of what happens during court proceedings.

A court reporter's main focus is to create an accurate word-for-word account of all legal proceedings and meetings, so that there is a permanent transcript record that can be used in all future reference to each legal proceeding. This may sound like a pretty simple task, but it really is a very in-depth process that requires a tremendous amount of schooling and dedication. It requires much more than just basic typing skills. It is a job that requires good hearing and an eye for precise written details. Not only this, but court reporters also face the additional pressure of making sure that every word is transcribed with 100% accuracy and with detail that can be used as a legal record that can be referred back to as needed. Another reason that this occupation requires so much training is that there are many different ways to take notes.

One of the most common and accepted methods of court transcription is the stenographic method, in which a stenotype machine is used to record all of the statements that are given at a legal proceeding. A stenotype machine can be extremely difficult to learn because it does not use a standard type keyboard and instead uses a variety of symbols, either individually or all at once, as needed by the typist. As the various symbols are keyed in by the court reporter, an embedded computer translates them and displays the actual words that were spoken on the screen.

The second most common method that court reporters commonly use is called electronic reporting. The court reporter brings in an electronic device that actually records the proceedings as they happen. At a later time, the court reporter will listen to the recordings, and along with combining it with any notes he/she may have taken, the court reporter puts them all together into a complete transcript. Most court reporters who use this method opt for a small hand held tape recorder.

The third and least used method that some court reporters use is known as voice writing. With this method, the court reporter speaks directly into a microphone that is fitted into a special mask designed to silence the court reporter's voice so that he or she will not interfere with the court proceedings. The court reporter not only repeats the actual words of the court proceeding, but he also makes voice notes of emotions and reactions of speakers. Later, he will transcribe his recordings onto paper so that there is a transcript available.

Schooling for court reporting entails a tremendous amount of time allotted to computers, typing, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. A court reporter must be able to type a minimum of 200 words per minute or more. Becoming a court reporter takes about two to four years of training at a vocational or technical college.

The requirements for court reporters vary from state to state. Many states require that court reporters be certified by the state or by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), which requires passing an exam. Also, in some states, court reporters must be notary publics.
The average annual salary for a court reporter is $45,000 per year, with some more experienced court reporters making upwards to $60,000 per year.