Court reporters are without a doubt important professionals in the legal ecosystem. Legal teams often require them not only to transcribe proceedings during court cases but also to gather statements and testimonies of witnesses out of court. All of these exercises are vital to a case, and may even influence the outcome of a hearing. Given the critical role that court reporters play, it is no wonder that successful court reporters are highly sought after. 

When hiring a court reporter, you naturally want someone who not only possesses the skills that are required for the job but also maintains a high standard of professionalism. As such, it might be wise to vet multiple candidates before hiring one as your court reporter. 

Whereas some people have a natural aptitude for this job, others may not be such a good fit. You should therefore begin by looking at the applicant’s qualifications and certifications to see if they fit the standard that you are looking for. In addition to this, you want to also consider the amount of time that the candidate has been working in this profession. 

Court reporters who have been employed for many years are typically more experienced than those who are just starting out. Hiring someone who has been in the profession longer, therefore, increases the likelihood of having a good experience. Another advantage of hiring a more experienced court reporter is that there is a high chance they have worked on similar cases in the past and may be familiar with what you require them to do. 

While certification, practical skills, and experience are fundamental to good court reporting, there are a couple of other things that you should look for when hiring a court reporter. These include:

Track Record

A successful court reporter should have a history of good experiences. When vetting your candidates for this position, be sure to ask them about their training and professional history. Request for copies of their previous records to verify what kind of jobs they have done. This will help determine whether they are a good fit for the kind of case you are seeking to hire them to work on.

Multitasking Skills

The ability to multitask is crucial when it comes to successful court reporting. This is because the job of a court reporter requires them to constantly listen and transcribe at the same time. When choosing your court reporter, therefore, it is important to ensure they are keen listeners as well as quick typists so that they are able to perform their duties efficiently.

Communication Skills

Although writing skills are fundamental to the job of a court reporter, communication skills are just as important. When hiring a court reporter for a long-term partnership, therefore, you should make sure they are able to communicate well and have the interpersonal skills required for a courtroom environment. This will ensure smooth proceedings with little to no misunderstandings. 

Passion 

A successful court reporter is one who is fully engaged in their profession. Usually, you can tell how enthusiastic a candidate is about their job when you first get to meet them. A passionate court reporter will guarantee great results since they will bring their best game to every case. 

Turnaround Time

During court proceedings, there are moments when you may need a recording to be turned around very swiftly. A competent court reporter is one that is able to do this without breaking a sweat. Make sure to check in with them about their past court cases to verify whether they are capable of delivering a turnaround at a moment’s instance. 

Location

Court reporters who are sourced locally tend to be familiar with the judges and courthouses in your jurisdiction. They may also be conversant with state laws, which makes the whole process a lot easier. 

A Final Word

Working with a competent court reporter can be a delightful experience since they not only have the practical skills to deliver high-quality recordings but also possess the interpersonal qualities to navigate the high-pressure environment of a courtroom. Taking note of the above-mentioned properties during your vetting process will ensure you find the best person for the job.

Court reporters take down information in a legal or serious setting so that there is an official record of events. Court reporting agencies offer these services by having qualified reporters that know how to do their jobs! Far from being replaceable by a machine or a computer, the great thing about this field is how it appreciates and needs people that are efficient, detail-oriented, smart, and trustworthy.

Typing quickly is important, but it’s also the type of career that is good for people who are organized and fastidious about the little things. This is why so many opt to go with an agency that has reliable, certified reporters that are going to be able to provide that invaluable legal record of event (especially when compared to technological options).

Check Online for Reviews

Get a good feel about the type of agency that they are by going online. Bad reviews that have the same thing in common may be a red flag. You want to collaborate with an agency that seems to have a positive reputation and is professional.

Gauge Their Service Levels

How good or poor is their service? Do they return inquiries and messages (voicemail, email, etc.) in a timely and prompt fashion? Do they seem professional and provide great customer service, able to answer every question that you might have? Check out their website and make a call to find out.

Do Your Hiring Research

When hiring an agency, make sure that you do research first. Find out what they’re about and see what you like or dislike about them. Make a list of candidates and cross off those you find unappealing as you go.

See If They Travel

Better to see if an agency has a travel feature before you hire them than after! Check and make sure they’ve got reporters that travel or if you need to search elsewhere. You may also want to see that they provide equipment and any other features that they offer beforehand when hiring (such as travel, scheduling, videoconferencing, equipment, fees, etc.).

Look For Certification

If you’re getting certified and want to work with an agency or want certified reporters, that’s one aspect to keep in mind.

End Result: Transcript

Last but not least, the transcript. Do they have the ability to produce a timely and accurate transcript? That’s the main thing when looking to hire an agency.

Be selective and follow our guidelines and you’re likely to find a great court reporting agency with all of the requirements that you need!

Many end up staying in this career because it is so rewarding. Whether you’re looking to get into a career for the first time or considering switching, there is no question that court reporters serve an important job. It’s a very serious career and a job that the people that do it take seriously! After all, it is a crucial line of work that is integral to the legal system.

This may be a good fit for you if you like to be in court houses, have an attention to detail, like to do work that will be meaningful or serving a purpose, are organized and timely, and are generally extremely responsible. Being quick at typing can also help, but that is of course something learned along the way to becoming certified.

There’s a constant requirement for court reporters that are certified as well as trained. With constant field openings and more jobs available and projected to be available in the coming future, it’s a great field to consider as a career.

This is of course a remarkable shift from many career fields which are becoming outdated or even obsolete. There are so many jobs and lines of work that are going out of style. This increase of positions may be due to the steady requirement of this position for the courts and more as well as the fact that many people working currently are beginning the retirement process, have already retired, or will soon be retiring.

In a few years there may be as many as 5,500 court reporter jobs that have opened up in America alone! This field will continue this trend barring a bunch of courts closing down (unlikely to occur). This career is a great choice because you can get 2 years of training and get certified and start. That’s two less years than most degrees and you’re right out into the field, getting started and making money.

Best of all, you can depend on this as a career that is going to have a high beginning salary of $40,000 at least. You won’t have to wait a long time to make back the money that you invested and be earning a comfortable living.

There are so many individuals that would do really well working in this field. If you think that you are determined, professional, reliable, good with time management, detail oriented, committed, able to focus for long periods of time, among other positive traits, this might be the field for you!

Reporters are now able to get government jobs and can also transcribe for other areas and purposes. With so many jobs about to open out, this might be a great line to get into. If you’re quick and want a reliable career, and are accurate with tying, this might be for you!

The world is seemingly full of technology these days. Court reporting has traditionally been a position filled by humans and still is. Each and every single court hearing has a huge need for a reliable transcript of events, actions, and statements so that they have an accurate record of just what went on. Without it, they simply not function in the same way.

While it may seem that tech is popping up in many facets of life, the fact of the matter is that it isn’t likely to replacing these reporters anytime soon. Courts need people to be doing this job simply because of the fact that they are so reliable.

They don’t mess up and make errors and they certainly aren’t going to have a breakdown because something is ‘glitching’ and causing them not to function– unless they forgot to eat breakfast, which a reliable reporter always does.

Trials and hearings have a need for not only accurate records, but someone that is going to be able to speak up and signal when they need something repeated or were not able to discern a word that was said. Technology is currently not so integrated with impeccable AI that it can accomplish that– and if it can, it does not come anywhere close to rivaling the abilities of a human.

Reporters are simply a necessary part when it comes to any court proceedings because there needs to be the official recording. This then is turned into legal evidence, which can have a huge effect on how the case turns out. Without it, things simply cannot move forward.

Are you considering getting into this field? It could be a great career for you if you are willing to work hard as well as get certified. While many others are wondering whether tech will eliminate the need for human workers in some fields, the good news is that reporting will continue to need people to do this job simply because an accurate transcription and record is so important.

Tech is certainly something to worry about in a variety of job fields, but certainly not this one anytime soon. While the advancement of technology has certainly been able to help reporters in what they are able to get done, there is no question that they are not a rival for doing the job itself.

Reporters, also known as stenographers, put a lot of effort into learning their skills and continually striving for excellence in their field of choice. With discipline and pursuing your training, you can become a stenographer too!

It’s a great career path and one that is not at risk of being threatened by total tech replacement! They’re an integral part of the courts and more. If you’re interested in this field, do your research and find out more about what it involves and maybe find a training program or school near you.

They must also be able to establish communication with witnesses, lawyers, and the judge to ensure that a transcription is accurate. Whether you currently work as a court reporter or want to, these tips could help you improve understanding and performance.

Be early instead of on time.

Early is always best. Make getting places twenty to thirty minutes early your new normal and you will usually be able to deal with anything that gets thrown your way. Make it an hour if you’re the type of person that likes to get there early and then enjoy their drink.

Do your best to interpret an interpreter.

Cases with two primary languages that are different (or utilization of sign language). When an interpreter is required, a reporter must clarify who is testifying– a witness or if an interpreter is speaking. Prepare for this as needed.

Get spelling of certain words determined ahead of time.

Specific words can be needed in order to confirm how first or last names or medical terminology are spelled. Use punctuation and more and get spelling down ahead of time if you know there are going to be certain terms used if possible.

Develop a good sense of communication and rapport.

Get a rapport going with attorneys. If you’re going to be working together, you need to have clear communication and that way both of you will know what’s happening. Be clear about expectations both ways and confirm confidentiality when needed. Some may want headers on pages indicating confidentiality levels on the document.

Keep up with recording demands.

A reporter’s duties on the job are to keep up and make sure that the record and resulting transcript are accurate. Speaking up as needed to clarify words and more is key! Be sure you get a good night’s sleep and are ready to take on the day by eating breakfast and leaving early so you stay focused.

Do your best to stay current.

Commit to developing your reporting skills and staying sharp. Staying current with your industry and profession may be a good idea as well. You may want to familiarize yourself with timers if you need to track time, and be sure that your computer or steno components are good and do not require repair.

Be professional and courteous.

This one explains itself but will get you far in any career, job, or field. Always be professional and courteous with no exceptions!

Dress for work.

Length is best and never do shorts! Skirts should be at least to the knee and ideally longer. A simple pants and formal shirt combination whether male or female should be suitable. Simple colors and no loud colors or patterns is important too. Go with formal over casual, length over shortness, and clothing that you purchased within the last two years so that it is not overly dated.

Thanks for reading our tips for court reporting. Follow these tips to do your best on the job!