Court reporting is arguably one of the most important careers in the legal industry. Court reporters are responsible for producing accurate, secure, and complete transcripts of depositions, trials, and other legal proceedings. This makes them pretty much indispensable players in the legal process.
However, court reporting is not for everyone like any other profession. To be a good court reporter, you not only require a unique set of skills but also need to have sufficient interest in the field. Most people are typically drawn to this profession mainly because of the many rewards and opportunities for growth and career development. However, if you’re considering venturing into this line of work, it’s essential to assess whether you have what it takes to succeed carefully.
Court reporting might be a great career path for you if you enjoy working in an office setting or are fascinated by court proceedings. Likewise, you may find this profession a good fit if you yearn to work in a meaningful profession, have attention to detail, and are generally responsible. After all, in the role of a court reporter, you’ll need to create accurate transcripts of legal proceedings that have far-reaching consequences for many people. For this reason, you need to treat your work with the seriousness it deserves.
The ability to type fast without any errors is also crucial in court reporting, albeit it is a skill many court reporters develop over time. Many experienced court reporters can write down up to 200 words of dictation per minute without any errors. But, you shouldn’t feel disheartened if your typing speed is not at this level. As long as you can type faster than the average human (over 60 words per minute), you’ll have a fairly good start in this profession.
Proper education and certification are other vital requirements to consider when assessing your suitability for a court reporting career. Unlike many career fields that are becoming obsolete due to the increasing adoption of technology, court reporting is still largely dependent on manual labor and skill, which means its demand will only grow.
It is estimated that there will be as many as 5,500 court reporting job openings in America alone in the coming few years. Moreover, this trend is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. This makes court reporting a great profession to pursue since you only need two years of training and certification to get started, ultimately saving you lots of time and student loans that you would otherwise need when pursuing a regular degree.
Best of all, a career in court reporting guarantees you a high starting salary of at least $40,000. This means it won’t take long to recoup the money you invested in training and begin living comfortably.
These days, court reporters are not only able to secure government jobs but also lend their services to other areas. With so many job opportunities in this field, you should probably consider a career in court reporting if you’re reliable, committed, have attention to detail, and are passionate about the legal industry.
Are you seeking a certified court reporter in New Jersey? If so, contact us today!