A court reporter plays a vital role in the courtroom. This is a job that can be exciting and challenging and is not affected by the economy as there has to be one in a court of law for it to be legal. These jobs are not being replaced by computers and depend on persople to dictate everything said in a courtroom with speed and accuracy.
When you work as a reporter you can work for a local government branch. You can also work independently as an independent contractor. Some reporters work at a freelance level even if they work for an office for extra cash. It is a valuable skill and people need it.
The skills required to be a great reporter are intelligence and fortitude to stay sharp and be able to take great dictation. You have to be quick as a reporter and must be able to focus. There are a lot of other things going on and many people speaking so you must be able to pay attention to everything while you are focusing as well.
A reporter requires professional training. When you have training there is an association called the National Court Reporters Association which is also known as the NCRA. If you are offered on the job training this may be for a certain system but you need training to know how recording is done. It takes two to three years to complete this type of program.
The average typing speed of a reporter will type two hundred and twenty five words per minute. The regular typing is not what a court reporter does. Instead, they use a Qwerty type keyboard that is similar to many cellular phones on the market today. The board then transfers to a stenograph machine that a reporter uses that is typically connected to a computer in a modernized courtroom.
But it is not miniature typing but rather is a whole new language that you will need to learn as you go to school. This language is learned by using the board and where each letter is a sound and then once you learn this language you are able to type a conversation quickly.
Being a court reporter can be a fulfilling career for many. With a lot of hard work and dedication you can learn the skills that you need to have a successful career with longevity. There are many school online as well that offer programs to get your certification to be a registered court reporter and you will be able to work after you pass the exam.
There is no doubting the fact that a court reporter plays a vital role in the courtroom. That why we’ve got the super inside scoop on the Court Reporter Depot .