What Is a Court Stenographer?
A court reporter is a person who is present during various types of legal proceedings to record what is said, using a stenotype machine. She then transcribes what she has typed, word for word, and the transcription is then retained as a record of what transpired at the proceeding.
Court reporters must be good listeners, fast and accurate typists, and must pay attention to detail. Accurate transcriptions are important as they can be used in future proceedings and are the only record of what was actually said.
Court reporters can also be voice-writers, which involves speaking into a hand held mask that contains a microphone called a stenomask. With this device, the court reporter repeats everything said in the proceeding then transcribes it for the official record.
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What Is a Stenotype Machine?
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The stenotype machine is like a typewriter that, using multiple keys pressed simultaneously, allows the stenotypist to record sounds, words or phrases without the need to type each individual letter of the spoken words. The typed symbols are then saved on a hard drive or CD Rom, translated and displayed as text. This is computer aided transcription and is the technology behind closed captioning on television.
How Do You Train to Be a Stenographer?
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Vocational schools, technical schools and colleges offer courses in court reporting. Accredited programs can be found on the National Court Reporters Association website (see Resources).
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How Much Does It Pay?
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Court reporters are paid from $33,000 to $60,000 annually, depending on where they work. Many court reporters are independent freelancers.
Are There a Lot of Jobs?
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2006 there were 19,000 court reporters employed, the vast majority by governmental agencies. This occupation is expected to have higher-than-average growth potential through 2016.
How Long Is the Training?
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Training to be a stenotypist takes, on average, 33 months. Voice writer training takes less than a year, but courts typically will only employ stenotypists.
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