5 Qualities All Successful Court Reporters Must Have

Court reporting agencies are constantly hiring new court reporters. In fact, between 2012 and 2022, job opportunities are expected to rise by 10%. But some just aren’t cut out for the job. In order to be a court reporter, there are some essential traits that you need to have to succeed.

1. 1. 1. Good Work Ethic- Even the most skilled reporters often cannot handle the rigors of court reporting. Not only do hiring managers look for skill in the field, they look for a willingness to work. Working for a court reporting agency requires someone to have the determination to strive towards accuracy while also writing at high rates of speed, to boot.

• A Broad Range of Knowledge- You don’t need to be an expert on any specific topic in order to work in a court reporting agency, but you should know a little bit about everything. Having a liberal arts degree or a travel background is often a good indicator that a candidate is cultured and therefore understands things that other candidates may not.  An effective court reporter will know how to research topics that they are not super familiar with and think critically in order to prepare transcripts in an accurate manner.

• Technical Knowledge- Being a court reporter certainly goes beyond typing transcripts. Court reporters in today’s age of litigation support are fluent in a number of technologies, especially CAT systems. CAT systems allow reporters to take down and transcribe proceedings.  If you are not familiar with emerging CAT technologies, you should demonstrate a willingness to embrace them. If working for a court reporting agency is a career goal, you may also want to get some training in legal videography.

• A Readiness for Realtime Reporting- Not all reporting agencies require reporters to be trained in realtime, but it certainly helps. Realtime transcription is the general term for transcription by court reporters using realtime text technologies to deliver computer text screens within a few seconds of the words being spoken. Realtime court reporting is  when a stenographer’s shorthand is instantly converted into English.  Certification for Realtime transcription is available at the National Association of Court Reporting. This certification is available for all reporters after they acquire the Registered Professional Reporter certification, the first certification every reporter should achieve.  Realtime certifications require reporters to write at a speed of 200 wpm with 96% accuracy.

• A Positive Attitude- Above all else, a great attitude towards the job is the key indicator of someone who will succeed in the field. While many skills can be acquired on the job, it takes the right person to seize opportunities. A great personality and enthusiasm is something that cannot be taught.

If If you have these skills and are looking for a new job opportunity, consider pursuing a career in court reporting with Elite Reporting Agency