How to Become a Stenographic Court Reporter

steno machine

So you think sitting in a courtroom writing down every single word on that little steno machine looks like a cool job? It is. Court reporting is a rewarding, fast-paced, and lucrative career, and reporters are in short demand. But it's not for everybody. Answer the questions below to find out if becoming a stenographic court reporter is right for you.

Things You'll Need

• A little time
• An Internet connection

Instructions

1. Are you disciplined? Court reporting school is a demanding undertaking. Accredited programs require a two-year Associate Degree, but most students take longer. Court reporters can write in excess of 260 words per minute, and a minimum of 225 words per minute is required for graduation and certification. That's fast. Two or more hours of additional daily practice outside of the classroom is required each day to attain those speeds.

2. Are you comfortable being assertive? Court reporters have an awesome job. They are the "guardians of the record." As such, they must write down every spoken word in a proceeding. If a word or words are missed, the reporter must ask for a repeat to ensure an accurate record. This means if someone mumbles, speaks with a heavy accent, speaks too quickly, or more than one person speaks at the same time, the reporter must not be afraid to step in and correct the situation.

3. Are you flexible? Court reporters work in a variety of settings. "Official" reporters work in the court system, and typically put in an eight-hour day at the courthouse. Freelance court reporters take down arbitrations, meetings, and depositions. The time and place of freelance jobs vary by day, as does the length of the job. It is not uncommon for reporters to receive last-minute transcript requests and time or location job changes, so you must be flexible enough to accommodate all the parties involved.

4. Are you a perfectionist? Verbatim writing is only a portion of a court reporter's job. After the proceedings have concluded, a transcript of the proceedings is often prepared. Transcripts can be as small as three pages or in excess of hundreds of pages depending on the length of the proceedings. Spelling, punctuation, and grammar must be perfect. In complex medical or environmental cases, reporters can spend hours doing research to guarantee the highly technical terminology is spelled correctly.

5. 

   Are you still interested? Find out more! Go to the National Court Reporters Association website at the link below and register as a guest. Poke around. Ask questions. Or contact a court reporter at a courthouse in your area and ask if you can shadow for a day. Court reporting may be for you!

Tips & Warnings

• You can find the National Court Reporters Association at http://www.ncraonline.org/