Increasing Demand for Court Reporters
By Amy Nutt
People are always searching for the next big thing in the job market - a way to improve
their wages and achieve more financial and personal freedom. One of the newest hot career
paths on the market is that of the court reporter. More and more people are trying to
break into this lucrative and flexible career every day. The salaries are high and the job
offers are high degree of independence, so it's no wonder that people are flocking to it.
However, that means that getting a court reporter job can be difficult due to all the competition.
Before we go any further, we should establish what exactly a court reporter does. Court
reporters are the people that you see sitting nearby the judge in a courtroom, rapidly
typing away at a keyboard. Their job is to record every word that is said during a trial,
and so also during some out of court proceedings, such as depositions. Now, you may be
thinking, "But I can't type that fast!" Note that part of the training that one must
undergo to become a court reporter includes learning the shorthand that makes keeping up
with court proceedings possible.
Other court reporters instead operate by using a device called a voice silencer along
with a digital recorder, which allows them to simply repeat the words said in a trial or
deposition without disturbing the proceedings.
In order to become a court reporter, you must take the proper classes regardless of
which type of reporting method you will use. The coursework required to become a reporter
includes learning about legal and medical terminology, other legal concerns, and most
importantly, mastering the English language.
Generally, becoming a reporter requires at least attaining an associate's degree. For
those that use voice recorder technology, it's possible to obtain a job in the field by
the time degree work is completed. For stenographers, it may take longer - between three
to six years.
Many business schools offer special certification programs that teach people how to
become a court reporter. In many cases, these programs can be taken from home using online
training programs. Once a person has mastered the art of court reporting, they undergo
some on-the-job training before moving on to the real thing.
More so than most professions, it's important for a reporter to practice. It can be a
very demanding job that requires immense attention to detail and pinpoint accuracy. In
order to become a stenographer type court reporter, you must be able to type at least 225
words per minute. It is very demanding, but the earning potential for court reporters is
very high.
In addition, there is the opportunity for a person to essentially become a freelance
reporter, taking on jobs by contract. This provides people with a lot of flexibility in
their work schedule, and the ability to work as much or as little as they like. Of course,
there are also regular full time positions working for local courts or a court reporting agency.
Our local court reporting
services are at the heart of our business. We offer
court reporting services for
arbitrations, mediations, trials, depositions, videoconferences and more.
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