Do shows such as CSI, Law and Order, and others fascinate you? Do you have the ability to listen to what is being said and type at the same time? If you have an interest in being in a courtroom setting or around the legal process all day, yet you do not want to actually work on the cases, then a career as a court stenographer may be just the ticket. Court stenographers must attend schools specializing in court stenographer training as the stenotype machine types symbols that represent words, rather than the actual words themselves.

Court stenographers are just one of the types of court reporters who record the legal proceedings in hearings, trials, and depositions. Court stenographers are an important part of the legal process; what they record goes into the legal record and become the official document of the proceedings. Some court stenographers also work outside of the courtroom, recording meetings and other types of proceedings for corporations, the military, and government agencies. More and more, court stenographers are being asked to provide closed-captioning services for the hearing impaired. In this scenario, the stenotype machine is hooked up to a closed captioning device, which then translates the symbols to words on a television or computer screen.

Court stenographers aren't just responsible for capturing the testimony and words during a proceeding; they have a job after the event is finished as well. They must also create and maintain the computer dictionary that they use to translate their keystroke codes or voice files into written text. Reporters usually prepare written transcripts, make copies, and provide information from the transcript to courts, counsels, parties, and the public on request. Court stenographers also develop procedures for easy storage and retrieval of all stenographic notes, voice files, commonly referred to as "stenograms," or audio recordings in paper or digital format.

People interested in a career as a court reporter should have a knowledge and interest in the legal process, as well as be accurate and have the skills necessary to pay attention to detail. Court stenographer training can include a certificate, associate's or bachelor's degree program in court stenography. Most states also require that people who have completed court stenographer training take a test to gain a state court reporter's license.

Some of the types of courses offered to people interested in court stenographer training are in communications, computerized machine shorthand theory, keyboarding or word processing, foundations of language and writing, law, human relations, law terminology, medical terminology, culture and society, sociology, court reporting procedures, courtroom reporting practicum, English vocabulary, modern history, and captioning procedures. Students in a court stenographer training program may also have to complete an apprenticeship or internship program.

Recording Your Future
Those interested in a court reporting career and who complete a court stenographer training program and pass certification can expect a better than average chance of finding a job. Court stenographers made up about 19,000 jobs in 2006 and that number is expected to grow by 25 percent within the next 10 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Those interested in a career as a court stenographer can expect to earn a minimum of $23,000 per year, while the highest paid in the field earn in excess of $77,000.

If you're wanting to type out your own ticket in life, a court stenographer training program is just for you!