Court Reporter Career Overview Court reporters no longer have the staid image they got from old black and white movies. Today, court reporters use sophisticated technology to document the words spoken by everyone during official proceedings and prepare verbatim transcripts of their statements. Court reporters are a crucial part of any legal proceeding, and with ever-changing technology, they must constantly update their knowledge to stay relevant, making this a dynamic career. Court Reporter Job Responsibilities Court reporters capture speeches, conversations, legal proceedings, meetings and other events when written accounts of spoken words are necessary for correspondence, records or legal proof. In addition to reporting court proceedings, reporters transcribe depositions and other parts of pretrial proceedings. Court reporters also provide closed-captioning and real-time translation services to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.  Most court reporters use computer-aided transcription (computers tied to a stenotype machine) to turn their notes into readable print. The accurate work of court reporters is vital to an effective judicial system. Where Court Reporters Work According to the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), only about 27 percent of the court reporters in the US actually work in court. The rest are freelance reporters hired by attorneys to report depositions of potential trial witnesses, so might work in law offices or in offices rented by lawyers in a neutral, third-party setting. Court Reporter Training & Education Court reporters must complete a 2-to-4-year associate's or bachelor's degree program. Most programs cover legal terminology, criminal and appellate procedure, in addition to computer-aided transcription and real-time reporting. NCRA-approved programs require students to capture a minimum of 225 words per minute. Court Reporter Licensing & Certification Requirements vary widely, but court reporter certification is highly recommended because most employers require it. Some states require court reporters to be Notaries Public in addition to being a Certified Court Reporter (CCR). The National Court Reporters Association offers the title Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) to those who pass a four-part examination and participate in continuing education programs. A reporter may obtain additional certifications that demonstrate higher levels of competency, such as Certified Real-time Reporter (CRR). Court Reporter Salaries Court reporters earn a median salary of $49,710 in May 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle 50 percent earned between $35,390 and $67,430, but the top 10 percent earned more than $83,500. Many salaried court reporters supplement their income by doing additional freelance work. Freelance court reporters are paid per job and receive a per-page fee for transcripts. Related Articles: Criminal Justice Home
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