Court Reporter: Duties & Salary
by Genevieve M. Blaber
Whether you're intrigued in the criminal justice system, or have always been interested in the use of shorthand, close-captioning, or any kind of record keeping, then court reporting may be the job for you. Aspiring court reporters start their careers by attending an accredited court reporting school or program that instructs them in the specific field of court reporting they wish to pursue. That's right, a court reporting education doesn't just always mean you'll end up sitting at a stenotype as you jot down testimony, it can also mean that you work for a TV station or for a run-of-the-mill company.
What does a court reporter do?
A court reporter is,, traditionally, a vital part of the judicial system. Using the skills that they learn at accredited court reporting schools, they are responsible for recording all that transpires within the courtroom during a case or trial. These records, or transcripts as they are most commonly called, are one of the key components of the courtroom. They allow the judge, jury, and litigators to refer back to earlier testimony as needed, and serve as detailed records that can be called upon in future cases. Court reporters may also be called upon by the judge to read back testimony and provide additional research.
But a court reporter isn't always just found in the courtroom. Many people who take court reporting classes use their transcription skills to get jobs in other industries that need an accurate way of keeping records and disseminating information.
How much do court reporters get paid and what kinds of court reporting jobs can I get?
Depending on the needs of the court, and the type of training the court reporter has received, the recording of courtroom activity can take any of three diverse forms. The first and by far the most classic, is courtroom stenography. Court reporters who are trained stenotypists record in detail all of the testimony that takes place in the courtroom using a stenotype, a chorded keyboard that contains a specialized system of keys that can stand for various sounds, words, and phrases. The stenotype is used to record all of the court proceedings and is sometimes used in order to provide close captioning for televised court cases.
Another court reporting job you may be interested in is electronic reporting. Court reporters who work in this area, is responsible for setting up audio equipment and consistently monitoring it so that all of the court proceedings are accurately recorded. The court reported must also note when there is a change in speak which there often is during a trial.
Although court reporters most often, as the name implies, work in courtrooms, they may also find employment in other areas. For example, they may work with television networks as broadcast captioners, transcribe business and government meetings, or record public or private events for interested parties. It all depends on whether your interested in a front row seat to the criminal justice system or not.
What does a court reporter do?
A court reporter is,, traditionally, a vital part of the judicial system. Using the skills that they learn at accredited court reporting schools, they are responsible for recording all that transpires within the courtroom during a case or trial. These records, or transcripts as they are most commonly called, are one of the key components of the courtroom. They allow the judge, jury, and litigators to refer back to earlier testimony as needed, and serve as detailed records that can be called upon in future cases. Court reporters may also be called upon by the judge to read back testimony and provide additional research.
But a court reporter isn't always just found in the courtroom. Many people who take court reporting classes use their transcription skills to get jobs in other industries that need an accurate way of keeping records and disseminating information.
How much do court reporters get paid and what kinds of court reporting jobs can I get?
Depending on the needs of the court, and the type of training the court reporter has received, the recording of courtroom activity can take any of three diverse forms. The first and by far the most classic, is courtroom stenography. Court reporters who are trained stenotypists record in detail all of the testimony that takes place in the courtroom using a stenotype, a chorded keyboard that contains a specialized system of keys that can stand for various sounds, words, and phrases. The stenotype is used to record all of the court proceedings and is sometimes used in order to provide close captioning for televised court cases.
Another court reporting job you may be interested in is electronic reporting. Court reporters who work in this area, is responsible for setting up audio equipment and consistently monitoring it so that all of the court proceedings are accurately recorded. The court reported must also note when there is a change in speak which there often is during a trial.
Although court reporters most often, as the name implies, work in courtrooms, they may also find employment in other areas. For example, they may work with television networks as broadcast captioners, transcribe business and government meetings, or record public or private events for interested parties. It all depends on whether your interested in a front row seat to the criminal justice system or not.
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