3 Reasons to Consider a Career As a Court Reporter
Court reporters, or court stenographers as they’re also known, are the people who transcribe virtually every word uttered during legal proceedings. That’s not all they do, though. Many court reporters also provide deposition services, in which they transcribe witnesses’ sworn testimonies given out-of-court. In fact, 70% of the court reporters in the U.S. regularly work outside of a courtroom.
There are a variety of reasons why someone might be attracted to the profession of court reporter. It might not be the most glamorous of professions, but here are just a couple reasons to consider this invaluable public service for a career.
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- Interest in Law: A career in court reporting can be a great way to work in the legal system without having to worry about going to law school to become a lawyer. In fact, working as a court reporter is one of the best ways to get involved in the legal process.
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- Raw Ability: Many people look for a career in something they enjoy doing. Other people find enjoyment in doing something well. The best is when you can get those two to cross over. Being a court reporter takes a great deal of raw ability. The minimum speed needed to become certified by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), one of three national court reporting associations in the country, is 225 words per minute. Typing things all day might sound like a boring job, but not when you’re required to do it at breakneck speeds while maintaining at least 95% accuracy.
- Performing a Job that Matters: Purpose. Fulfillment. Using your talents to help society. Not everyone is concerned with finding a job that has these things, but for those who are concerned, being a court reporter fits. By definition, your profession provides a public service that is crucial to the nation’s judicial system. Without valid and accurate court reporting, the legal system could quickly deteriorate to “kangaroo courts” with no validation or accountability.
There were 21,200 court reporters in the U.S. in 2012 and for good reason, that number is expected to grow by about 10% by the year 2022. If any of the aforementioned reasons appeal to you, it might be time to seriously consider a new fulfilling career as a court reporter.
