When a written account of spoken words made during official proceedings is needed, a court reporter takes down all of the statements. Typical job duties include:
- Typing a deposition for an attorney
- Recording court proceedings during a trial
- Notarizing a document
- Closed captioning a TV program for the deaf
About 33 percent of court reporters work for the government, mainly in courts and legislatures. About 20 percent are self-employed. Others work for court reporting services, law firms, colleges and universities, and temporary help agencies. This job is all about speed; candidates need to be able to write as fast as people talk.
The recommended education and training includes a high school education and knowledge of shorthand accompanied by exceptional typing skills. Completion of a two- to four-year training program in court reporting, which provides training with stenotype and computer-aided transcription, is recommended. Some states require certification, and it is helpful to obtain the Registered Professional Reporter designation (RPR). Earnings usually range between $40k and $74k per year. This amount varies for freelancers. (Salary data is based on information from PayScale.com and varies based on experience.)
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