A working knowledge of the American legal system is also recommended, as an understanding of the legal proceedings one is recording is preferred, rather than one who simply copies down every word that is heard, without a clue as to the meaning. This also holds true when regarding the specific court system one is assigned to. There are various guidelines and rules that respective courts are known to abide by, and having a firm grasp on these regulations will surely help the court reporter to perform his or her job perfectly. If you will be reporting on traffic court proceedings, for example, being aware of any traffic standards practiced by the local government will make things run more smoothly.

Proficient language skills are also of top priority if you would like to become a court reporter. Spelling, grammar, usage, and language mechanics are very important. Court reporters do work mostly with shorthand, but to be adept when dealing constantly with the English language is surely one of the most important skill sets for this field of work.

Board certification is a requirement in some locations, but not all regions require any sort of licensing or official qualification to become a court reporter. It is best to first figure out which places you would be most interested in working, and then ask around to find out what their requirements are as far as certification goes. For example, Texas has very strict requirements regarding certification, while in the state of Kentucky no certification is required. If you would like to become a court reporter in a state such as Kentucky, however, it is always a good idea to seek out some sort of certification, in order to add credibility to your resume.

It is also a bare minimum requirement to understand how to properly use stenograph tools, as court reporters use these to quickly transcribe speech and whatever else is required during a court hearing. Stenographs, many models of which resemble small typewriters or calculators, are used almost exclusively within the court reporting field. Knowing how to use one can prepare a person for other data entry positions in other fields of work, such as medical transcription and even some information technology jobs. You should be able to comfortably type about 220 words per minute if you want to stay competitive, and it will take a good number of years to completely master use of this machine.

Public speaking skills are of utmost importance as well. Not only does the court reporter spend most of his or her time performing in front of many different types of people, but many court reporters are asked to read over their transcriptions for various reasons. This too is performed in front of all who happen to be involved in that specific trial or hearing, and as you may have seen, the amount of people at larger legal proceedings can number in the hundreds. Some people are known to be very shy around large groups of people, but if you wish to become a court reporter, you must overcome this fear.

Court reporting can be an exciting and rewarding career, and many court reporters rave about the variability, and how every day is different and new. With the skills mentioned above, you can be well on your way to discovering the benefits of this career yourself. Be sure to refer to one of the many court reporting programs offered throughout the U.S. for more details.