Court reporting is a highly specialized career that's
growing in demand, as more courts and attorneys are seeking qualified, accurate
reporters. Court reporters are a well-known fixture in the courtroom, as the
person who quietly sits near the stand meticulously recording each word that is
spoken during a trial or proceeding. Despite a demanding training process, the
need to be accurate and detail-oriented, and the willingness to put in additional
hours for transcribing and organizing, most court reporters are passionate
about what they do and love their jobs.
For any court case, especially high-profile and complex
trial cases, it's crucial to have an accurate and professional court reporter.
Here are seven questions to ask yourself when looking for the court reporter
that's perfect for your needs.
1. Is she friendly
and professional? Do others in the court system look to your prospective
court reporter as a professional in the field? A good court reporter should
take pride in the way she presents herself by dressing professionally and being
friendly to attorneys, witnesses and others in the courtroom.
2. Does he show up to
court on time? A serious court reporter will not only show up to every appointment
on time, but up to a half hour early to meet with attorneys, ask and answer
questions, set up his notes and equipment, and get acquainted with the case and
environment in the courtroom before proceedings begin.
3. Does she have a
reputation for professional behavior during the proceedings? Sometimes it's
necessary for a court reporter to interrupt a trial and ask for clarification,
especially if a witness is mumbling or speaking too fast to hear. But a good
court reporter will have an ear for different voice patterns and inflections,
and will rarely need to ask someone to repeat what was said. In addition, court
reporters should be sure to have the accurate spelling of everyone's names and
organizations that are brought up in the case.
4. Is the court
reporter detail-oriented with a good grasp on writing? A successful court
reporter will have good writing skills, with a solid grasp of grammar and the
ability to transcribe the proceedings accurately. The transcription should be
easy to understand with short sentences at the points when a witness pauses,
rather than run-on sentences punctuated with lots of commas.
5. Is the court
reporter self-motivated? Court reporting involves much more than showing up
in a courtroom and transcribing the proceedings. His responsibilities outside
the courtroom involve editing and correcting mistakes, verifying information,
preparing final transcripts and legal records for attorneys, making copies and
delivering documents. Many court reporters work freelance and compete for jobs,
so the good ones have learned to manage their time efficiently and have honed
their reporting skills and multi-tasking abilities to be the best in their
field.
6. Does the court
reporter have a strong grasp on today's reporting equipment and methods?
The stenotype machine is a specialized shorthand typing machine that requires a
different mindset to master. It's a bit like learning a new language, but court
reporters will tell you it is very rewarding to learn. Many of today's
competitive and professional court reporters will have mastered
the additional skill of real time reporting, which requires immediate accuracy
while transcribing court proceedings right there in the courtroom. Real time
reporting is a great advantage that many attorneys find beneficial.
7. Does the court
reporter seem passionate about her job? The work a court reporter does is
fast-paced and quite demanding. It requires complete attention to what is being
said during court proceedings. It certainly isn't a job for everyone, but the
best court reporters will affirm that they love what they do. It goes far
beyond transcribing the words during a trial. Good court reporters love law and
research, and are fascinated by the legal process. Additionally, a court
reporter with a good reputation will most often land exciting and interesting
trials, so she will be passionate about her job and always strive for learning
and improvement.
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