Court reporters, who have been made somewhat famous by their unfailing appearances at many of the more famous court trials of recent memory, such as the O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson fiascos, are dedicated individuals whose job it is to preserve for near as well as future memory the dealings that take place in court and deposition rooms. Their trade is indispensable, and in this age of automation cannot really be performed to an acceptable level by machines and computers. A court reporter has to be able to discern, from various background noises and the incessant chatter of courtroom spectators, the exact words spoken by lawyers, judges, witnesses and bailiffs
| Excellent listening skills and superb hearing are characteristics that the breadth of the general population completely takes for granted. However, in the world of court reporting, these are probably the most integral qualities in the maintaining smooth and uninterrupted transcription of the surrounding action. To lack these traits can spell a lack of future in court reporting, and to have completely perfected them will bring high pay and a wealth of various references to place in your little black book. | Networking is essential. In the event that work becomes scarce in your area, or just in case you would like to take on more hours and really immerse yourself into what have become your overwhelming and consuming passion for the legal world, it is imperative that you know where to turn in the search for new work. References are also key, as those who have worked in a taxing up front trial environment and proven their salt will be able to secure much better pay and more flexible hours than those who have not yet completely perfected their skills. Court reporting can be simple once the ropes are learned, but it can also be competitive due to its relatively high learning curve in some cases.
To perfect your skills as a court reporter, there are many various speed building tools offered throughout the World Wide Web. Subjects on everything from presidential addresses, standard jury charges, and testimonies, to Robinson Crusoe and NFL drills are available. The phenomenon of internet video is also an unmistakable boon for those who wish to perfect their stenography skills or simply to progress farther in their already lucrative and stimulating careers. Of course, if court reporting becomes mundane and boring for you, your pristine references will also aid you in finding work as a medical transcriptionist, or perhaps a caption writer for a number of various visual mediums. Television networks are always on the search for those who can quickly and accurately transcribe every spoken line or sound effect. Although some are under the impression that televised closed captioning is performed beforehand, it is usually transcribed live, with the caption writer hearing the dialogue only moments before the national television audience, similar to a censor. As you can see, court reporting is one of the most potentially philanthropic careers out there in this day and age. By lending your masterful services to justice, health, and the hearing impaired, there can be no doubt in your mind that are you are helping humanity forge ahead by keeping it on track. Record keeping services such as this can be tedious for some, but if they are not completed by someone, humanity’s record of past doings will be spotty at best. Court reporters are constantly placed under very heavy pressure, as the words they transcribe can make or break the validity of a lawyer’s argument or supplement the decision of the jury in a manner that is, for all practical purposes, indispensable. If court proceedings happen to be transcribed too inaccurately, especially to the point of influencing a pivotally different outcome, the trial is thrown into shambles. The court reporter can often act as a sort of backup for the presiding judge or lawyer, and being forced to backtrack through hours and hours of largely uninteresting and meaningless dialogue due to an untrustworthy court reporter is by all accounts an irritating situation that is avoided at all costs. The take home point of this is that perfection is of utmost priority, and those who do not take pride in the perfection of their work should probably not consider court reporting, despite its alluring pay and flexible work hours. |