Job Outlook for Court Reporting & Associated Fields

Written by Administrator Wednesday, 17 December 2008 06:26

Attention: open in a new window. PDFPrintE-mail

The following information is courtesy of the United States Department of Labor: Job Outlook for 2006 - 2016: http://www.dol.gov/oco/ocos152.htm

Court Reporting and Associated Professions

Electronic reporters and transcribers; Real-time captioners; Reporters, court; Voice writers; Closed captioners; Broadcast captioners; CART providers; Stenocaptioners

Significant Points

  • Job prospects are expected to be excellent, especially for those with certification.
  • Demand for real-time broadcast captioning and translating will spur employment growth.
  • The amount of training required to become a court reporter varies by specialization; licensure requirements vary by State.

    Nature of the Work

    Court reporters usually create verbatim transcripts of speeches, conversations, legal proceedings, meetings, and other events. Sometimes written accounts of spoken words are necessary for correspondence, records, or legal proof, and court reporters provide those accounts. They play a critical role not only in judicial proceedings, but also at every meeting where the spoken word must be preserved as a written transcript. They are responsible for ensuring a complete, accurate, and secure legal record. In addition to preparing and protecting the legal record, many court reporters assist judges and trial attorneys in a variety of ways, such as organizing and searching for information in the official record or making suggestions to judges and attorneys regarding courtroom administration and procedure. Increasingly, court reporters provide closed-captioning and real-time translating services to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

    There are several methods of court reporting. The most common method is called stenographic. Using a stenotype machine, stenotypists document all statements made in official proceedings. The machine allows them to press multiple keys at once to record combinations of letters representing sounds, words, or phrases. These symbols are electronically recorded and then translated and displayed as text in a process called computer-aided transcription (CAT). In real-time court reporting, the stenotype machine is linked to computers for real-time captioning, often of television programs. As the reporter keys in the symbols, the spoken word instantly appear as text on the screen.

    Another method of court reporting is electronic reporting. This method uses audio equipment to record court proceedings. The court reporter monitors the process, takes notes to identify speakers, and listens to the recording to ensure clarity and quality. The equipment used may include analog tape recorders or digital equipment. Electronic reporters and transcribers often are responsible for producing a written transcript of the recorded proceeding.

    Yet another method of court reporting is voice writing. Using the voice-writing method, a court reporter speaks directly into a voice silencer