| Court reporting is an important job. The legal | | | | classes to keep up with their skills. |
| system needs someone to record the legal | | | | These court reporters are going to need to be |
| processes that go on with trials. This done with | | | | very fast typists. There are two different |
| short handed typing that is used to record so | | | | associations that require their members to type |
| that no words are missed when he or she is | | | | over 200 words per minute. One organization |
| typing. The other kind is a voice recorder that | | | | requires them to type 225 words per minute |
| types everything that is said from the lawyers, | | | | while the other needs to type 250. The one with |
| witnesses and others in the courtroom during the | | | | the higher words requires its members to record |
| time of the trial. | | | | verbatim what is said in the courtroom. |
| Becoming a court reporter is not necessarily that | | | | Many of the court reporters work as freelance |
| easy. This person is required to take up to two | | | | reporters. They often do a lot of work outside |
| years of school and get the degree of an | | | | the courtroom. They can do religious services or |
| associate before he or she will be qualified. This | | | | webcasts where transcription is needed. They |
| degree uses the same classes as any other | | | | could also do transcription for television networks |
| undergraduate degree. The student is still required | | | | that make TV better for the deaf. These people |
| to take basic classes in math, science, history and | | | | could also be employed as freelance journalists. |
| quite a bit of English. | | | | There are many things they can do that require |
| These students desiring to be in court reporting | | | | fast typing to keep up with verbal instructions. |
| are required to learn voice recognition software | | | | Court reporters can make anywhere from 30,000 |
| and be able to be successful at using it. The voice | | | | to 60,000 a year. There is a program that will |
| writing is highly technical so the student will need | | | | help to make reporters earn more money. This |
| to spend one to three hours a night on | | | | program makes it possible for the reporters to |
| homework. Using the short handed method will | | | | earn a continuing income when their work is sold |
| take longer for the students and they will need to | | | | as a research tool for witnesses. |
| go to college for at least 2-4 years to be able to | | | | Court reporting is a very necessary profession. It |
| learn enough to be successful. | | | | allows the court proceedings to be recorded so |
| Despite having a degree, there could still be real | | | | they can be accessed later. It makes the court |
| time experience necessary before a court | | | | system flow smoothly because of the |
| reporter is actually hired for the job. Even after | | | | organization they bring to the legal system. It |
| they complete the training while under an | | | | would not be as efficient as it is now without |
| apprentice they are still going to need to practice | | | | these reporters. This is certainly a job that will |
| their skills. The reporters will still need to attend | | | | remain around for the long haul. |