Court reporters are essential to the legal process as recorders of every official word spoken in court and other legal proceedings or meetings. Theirs is the official record of the trial and will be referred to if the verdict is appealed. Attorneys will often base the entire appeal on words spoken in the trial. read more [+]
As a court reporter, one has to be able to perform tasks quickly and efficiently. The average court reporter should be able to record up to two hundred words per minute. The task of quickly writing down every word, as it is being said, requires intense concentration, and accuracy is critical. It is the court reporter's job to ensure that every word makes it into the trial transcript. Accuracy by the court reporter is crucial to keeping the judicial system on track.
Browse our Court Reporting schools by State:
CA | FL | GA | NY | OR | TX | VA
Brown College of Court Reporting
Associate, Certificate
Realtime Voice Writing, CART/Captioning, Court Reporting
Georgia
Court reporters rarely rely on notebook and pen today — almost 90% of the more than 60,000 of the court reporters in the US today use computers or computer aids. Most court reporters have a typewriter-like device that is connected to a computer and translates their shorthand notes into an accurate and legible manuscript. Even with computer aids, the job of a court reporter is not an easy one; however, demand is high and employment opportunities are prevalent in most localities. Training and certification are required and compensation typically starts at about $25,000 per year. Experienced court reporters can earn up to $50,000 or more per year.
