A Career In Court Reporting
Are you the right individual for a career field that offers new and unique opportunities?
You excelled in your keyboarding classes. Your English skills are above par. Your attention to detail was always praised by your teachers. You are empassioned by the opportunity to learn something new every day. Courtroom drama and legal fields have always excited you…
...but another four years in school makes you cringe! Wouldn't it be great to be able to join the elite field of court reporting in a fraction of the time?
Court reporting might be the career for you.
What is Court Reporting?
A prestigious profession that enables you different choices to map out your own destiny.
Court reporters take down what they hear word-for-word on a specialized stenotype machine at a minimum of 225 words per minute. The reporter then translates their "machine shorthand" into English.
Picture yourself achieving such an accomplishment and perhaps one day you will be a Registered Merit Reporter and write a whopping 260 words per minute.
Imagine that!
There are numerous career options available for court reporters. Contact a school in your area and explore some of the following rewarding fields:
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If you have the drive, there's almost no limit to your options and advancement.
A number of court reporters love the day-to-day challenge of a courtroom situation and have fantastic careers doing just that.
Others thrive in knowing their skills are being utilized to make a difference helping the hearing impaired. Another option is being behind the scenes of a television station providing closed captioning for programs such as Oprah, CSI, and Grey's Anatomy.
Many love the idea of captioning from their home still dressed in their pajamas!
Whatever your path, the court reporting field is broad enough to make your dreams come true for years to come.
How do I get started?
Students typically enroll in a court reporting program at a private college where they master their machine speedbuilding and complete coursework that generally includes medical, forensic, and legal terminology, anatomy, and computer technology.
That's not all. Students need strong vocabulary skills to understand technical information given in testimony, or in a speech given by a prominent public speaker. They must possess excellent grammar and spelling skills. Being able to work well under pressure is imperative in this career.
What's the good news?
Court reporters sustain viable and lucrative careers.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor reports that opportunities in captioning and realtime reporting are expected to grow by 9 to 25% by 2016.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicated in May of 2007, the mean annual wage for court reporters was $48,380.
You don't have to be a court reporter to have a good career, but you do need to consider this: Regardless of the economy, court reporting will be in demand coast-to-coast. Courts will have trials; law firms will still have depositions; and TV stations will still broadcast.
Undecided about your major?
What are you waiting for?
Get your fingertips moving in the thrilling world of court reporting, where girls and guys are welcomed; learn to type at 225 words per minute and watch your future quickly reach a new high.
Why take extra courses when you can start on your degree now?
Check out reporting schools in your area and train to be one of the elite.
Your Homework
Get started today.
Find a school that is accredited and where financial aid is available for those who are qualified.
Plenty of hands-on-training should be offered with each Court Reporting class and be approved by the National Court Reporter's Association. Make sure classes are taught by Certified Reporting Instructors and/or with years of real-world experience in the industry.
Editorial provided by the Academy of Court Reporting, Inc.
