While there are some who think that court reporters are an unnecessary part of the legal system due to advanced technology, the truth is that court reporters are still very much a vital part not only inside of the courtroom, but outside as well. You might be under the impression that court reporters aren’t as in demand as they once were, but the truth is that there’s still several opportunities out there for professional court reporters. Becoming a court reporter might very well be the best career move you can make.
Earn Your Degree
The first thing you’ll want to do in order to become a court reporter is complete a certified court reporting degree program. By undergoing training you’ll learn all of the necessary skills that you need for learning more about legal transcription. The degree program will also teach you about machine shorthand, court proceedings, transcription and medical/legal terminology. Depending on the program, you might also learn about government, social studies and writing. You can still earn your degree even if you’re unable to attend a traditional classroom thanks to online classes. A majority of distance learning programs give students the same education that they would receive in a regular classroom setting. You’ll learn with a variety of other students and will have constant access to class instructions, information and materials. Even if you can attend a brick-and-mortar class, you might still prefer an online class since you’ll be able to attend class whenever you want and will have a more personalized educational experience.
What You’ll Learn
In order to make sure that you receive the proper education to become a court reporter, you’ll want to make sure that you enroll in a program that’s been certified by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA). You’ll learn how to transcribe 225 words per minute, decision making skills, how to make official transcriptions, interpersonal skills, how to organize your transcriptions and how to conduct research. While you’re earning your associate’s degree, your courses will consist of:
Legal terminology
Medical terminology
Reporting procedures
Communications
English vocabulary
Ethics
Court reporting computer applications
Once you’ve graduated from an associate’s degree program, you might have the opportunity to go on to a beginner level court transcriptionist position. You can also choose to go on to earn a more advanced degree.
Advanced Degree Programs
If you choose to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program, you’ll learn about computer aided transcription, court reporter vocabulary, proofreading, testimony, judicial reporting, reporting procedures and realtime transcription. Once you’ve become more proficient with realtime voice writing, you might qualify for transcription positions.
Job Opportunities
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for court reporters is expected to grow by 14% from 2010 to 2020, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. One reason for this job outlook is new federal legislation, which requires more captioning for a variety of technologies, such as the Internet. Not only will you learn in the classroom, you’ll also earn on-the-job experience, such as working with trainers, reading manuals and paying close attention to electronic transcribers to learn more about properly using equipment. Some of the employment opportunities you’ll more than likely have include transcription services, broadcast captioning skills and translating services, all of which are in high demand for graduates of certified court reporting degree programs. Once you’ve earned your associate’s or bachelor’s degree, you’ll qualify for entry-level employment in state legislatures, attorney’s offices, government agencies and broadcast programs. There are also court reporters who choose to work as freelancers or independent contractors at their very own business. You also have the option of being employed at a private company alongside practitioners and supervisors at agencies and firms.
Advantages of Becoming a Court Reporter
If you’re interested in the legal industry, becoming a court reporter might very well prove to be a great introduction. You’ll learn about the legal process and will also be able to familiarize yourself with legal terminology. Court reporters also play an essential role during depositions, trails and various other legal proceedings. As a court reporter you’ll have the potential to earn as much as $90,000 a year if you’re among the top ten percent of court reporters. The median yearly wage for court reporters is roughly $47,700, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Another advantage of working as a court reporter is that you can choose to work anywhere you’d like, even in the comfort of your own home. Start looking for certified court reporting programs in your area today and get started on your career.
Featured images: Creative Commons image source
About the Author
Lauren Hill has held a number of occupations in her life and she loves challenging herself to learn more about all sorts of employment opportunities. She is a contributing writer for Cook and Wiley.
Is A Career As A Court Reporter Right For You? is a post from: The Complete Lawyer