Court Reporting - Court Reporters - Court Reporting Training

Most people imagine that court reporters are quiet, unassuming typists that sit to the side of a crowded courtroom. But court reporters are highly-trained, vital members of the legal community. Increasingly, court reporters also find rewarding work for major business corporations or in the entertainment industry. They may be courtroom-based, work in high-tech cubicles, or enjoy the benefits of self-employment, doing their transcriptions at a home office.

Court Reporting Training: Mastering the Transcription Craft

Whether they're taking down the proceedings of a sensitive Congressional hearing, capturing the testimony at a murder trial, or providing closed-captioning text for a Hollywood feature, a court reporter has probably attended one of the nation's 160 post-secondary schools offering specialized training.

Many court reporting schools offer voice writing programs, which take less than a year to complete, or full 30-month steno-typist programs that lead to court reporting certifications.

In addition to learning specialized voice-recognition and computer software programs for capturing transcripts, court-reporting students build up their speed to the 225 word-per-minute minimum requirement established by the federal government and the National Court Reporters Association.  Not only are court reporters expected to be good listeners and fast typists, they are also required to have strong English vocabulary, spelling, and grammatical skills.

Court Reporting Job Outlook: The Jobs are Out There

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a strong job outlook through 2012 for court reporters. Because fewer people are going into the field, the demand for trained specialists is on the rise. In addition, the Americans with Disabilities Act will create a demand for real-time transcriptionists in the corporate workplace and on college campuses. A federal law requiring increased television closed-captioning through 2006 will also create new jobs.