The court reporter career path is not always an easy one, but it can definitely be rewarding. Court reporters can work in a variety of settings and earn a desirable pay. But what does it take to become a court reporter? If you’re interested in entering the field of court reporting, consider the following points.
What does a court reporter do?
Court reporters work in courtrooms, with television networks, and with other organizations to provide real-time transcripts of what is being said. This role is important, especially in legal settings. And with the growth of closed captioning, the court reporter job outlook continues to grow. Those in the court reporting field must be detail-oriented and have necessary typing skills. Court reporters can choose from a variety of work settings and can even work around the world if they have the right language skills, making this job appealing to those who like to change their work environment. But this job is not always easy — court reporters must type at a fast pace for long periods of time and cannot make errors.
What to consider when looking into court reporting programs
Court reporting school is difficult, but certainly not impossible. It all comes down to choosing the right school. Enrolling in a school with experienced instructors, hands-on training, and updated technology is crucial. The length of court reporting school can vary from program to program, but most programs last between two and five years. Additionally, some programs may require an associate’s degree before accepting students.
Prospective students should also consider whether or not they want to go to a National Court Reporters Association-approved school. The requirements to become NCRA are quite minimal, so just because a school is NCRA-approved doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a great school. Students should look into the requirements the school actually meets and even talk to former students if possible to get a better idea of what the school has to offer.
A great court reporting program will give students the opportunity to be involved in an internship before or right after they graduate. Gaining experience by working with certified court reporters will give students a better idea of what to expect when they land a job.
Pros and cons of becoming a court reporter
Becoming a court reporter in Miami with a reputable agency can offer many benefits. Being a court reporter is never boring. In fact, working in legal settings will expose reporters to a variety of trials and other court proceedings and there are endless other employment options. Court reporters can change their work setting as they want to, which helps to keep the job interesting. Another benefit of court reporting is that the job outlook for this industry is expected to continue to grow over the next several years and pay for these positions continues to increase, too. While court reporting school can be challenging, it can be done in a short amount of time, which means students can start working sooner.
There are also some things prospective court reporters should keep in mind. This position requires people to sit for long periods of time, especially in court proceedings that may last several hours. Additionally, this can be a high-pressure job because the documents court reporters write up can and will be looked back on so they must be accurate.
While court reporting isn’t for everyone, it can be a really rewarding and interesting job. It’s important for those looking to become a court reporter to choose the school program that they think fits their needs best to ensure they get the training and experience needed to be successful in a future court reporter position.
