If you would like to become a court reporter, as with any job in the criminal justice field, you should familiarize yourself with the national court system. Although court reporters generally transcribe the words and actions that take place during legal proceedings, most are also entrusted with swearing in witnesses during hearings and depositions. It is also preferred that a court reporter is knowledgeable enough to be able to take part in conversations regarding proper procedure during a hearing. With this in mind, being well versed within the court system you happen to be working under is a prime skill. If you plan on freelancing, or working within different districts, you must be aware that the laws active in one jurisdictions will not necessarily hold true within the one you happen to be working within later on.

Having a solid foundation in language is also absolutely crucial. This may seem almost unnecessary due to the amount of shorthand court reporters usually employ in transcription, but understanding every word that is spoken around you and being able to quickly transfer it from your own comprehension to paper is a skill some simply do not possess. Court reporters, in order to be versatile and able to deal with any case that is presented, will need to be familiar with the technical jargon used in biology, physics, electronics, and any other specialized terminology that will often come up during witness testimony or lawyers’ arguments. On the same token, bilingual capabilities are a highly sought-after skill, especially in regions in which there is a large non-English speaking population. In larger cities, such a New York City, the more languages one can speak or write, the easier it will be to become a court reporter, and the higher the pay might be.

Regarding regional differences, board certification is also an issue in many areas. Although it is not required in every state, it is recommended to attempt at least some sort of nationally-accredited certification if you would like to have your resume placed at the top of the pile when hiring time comes along. The National Court Reporters Association is a quick resource for court reporting certification, and performs many different certification tests of its own, which are recognized nationwide. Some states do have their own specific requirements, Arizona’s is fairly strict, for example, but some, like Kentucky, have none at all as far as certification is concerned.

Of course, to become a court reporter one must also be adept in the operation of standard court reporting accoutrement, such as stenotype machines. These tools of the trade are analogous to a welder’s torch, and it is often high skill with these machines that is commonly sought after by most court systems looking to hire court reporters. Simply put, if you cannot operate one of these with a masterful proficiency, it will be nearly impossible to even consider hire as a court reporter.

Court reporting is as gratifying as it is endlessly stimulating, and with the flexibility offered with freelance court reporting, the allure of “being your own boss” is one that can’t be beat.