According to the Wall Street Journal, the nationwide shortage of court reporters is causing delays in the legal process because court dates have to be scheduled around when there are court reporters available. The role of a court reporter is invaluable to legal proceedings as they are happening, but also to the ongoing upkeep of data and availability of information.
The shortage of court reporters has created an apparent demand for those looking for a successful, long-term, and well-paying career. A court reporter is responsible for ensuring everything said during a court appearance is recorded how it was said. This requires keen focus and listening skills, as well as the ability to work quickly and accurately.
Court reporters are tasked with documenting legal proceedings verbatim. This means they have to record what people say work-for-word while also making notes on gestures made and emotions displayed while speaking. Court reporters typically work using a stenotype machine, which is connected to a computer. Larger court systems may have voice writing technology, while small court systems may still use a stenotype machine without the computer connection.
Becoming a court reporter involves taking extensive training on how to use the stenograph machine and other necessary technology, as well as how legal proceedings work and legal jargon that is likely to be said during a trial. Once everything is learned, and the applicant passes all the necessary tests, they will be certified through the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA). This training typically takes slightly under three years and requires the student to be able to type 225 words per minute.
Brickwell Key Court Reporting has experienced the strain caused by the need for more court reporters in the Miami area. Brickwell is a court reporting agency that provides court reporters to courts throughout the area, and they are in constant demand. To become a court reporter in Miami, one must go through all the necessary training and testing as required by the NCRA. The applicant must also be comfortable quickly learning new technology as the job expands.
The pay for court reporters is high, and the work is nearly endless. Working with an independent agency like Brickwell allows court reporters to not worry about applying for individual courts and then hoping they get the amount of work they are looking for as an employee. While doing court reporting as a freelancer provides a much higher level of freedom, you will be forced to use some of your time to market yourself and engage with potential clients.
Working with an agency provides the best of both worlds—steady work without the need to market oneself. While court reporting can be challenging to learn, once you learn the basics, all you need is practice. Being open to new technology is also crucial as the role of the court reporter is always evolving.
While the certification to be a court reporter does not explicitly require college, most court reporters do have a college degree. Getting an associates degree in a field of law is highly beneficial for someone considering court reporting as a career choice. An educational background in law would provide a solid foundation for understanding legal jargon and procedural rules. Part of the court reporters ability to record so quickly is because they know what is being said by both the lawyers, judges, and those involved in the trial.
Court reporting can also be an enjoyable career. If you have a personal interest in law or trials, being a court reporter provides you with a front-row seat to nonstop legal proceedings. You can follow cases up close and personal. You can also experience firsthand the importance of your position when transcripts are referred to to make difficult rulings.
