The Purpose Of A Court Reporter

The unfortunate truth is that the court reporting profession will often time be looked over, especially when there is some drama that is unfolding inside the courtroom or during some litigation. Even if the court reporter is unheard and unseen during the proceedings, they still offer a vital function in the litigation process. They are the people who work on putting together complex documentation of all of the proceedings by making transcripts of everything that was done and said.

What Is Court Reporting?

This is a professional that takes down written documentation for any events going on in a legal proceeding such as investigations, mediation, trials, depositions, and hearings. The document is a transcript that takes down information word for word, minute by minute of everything that was said and done in the legal proceeding. There are also times when court reporting will be expanded outside of the courtroom during deposition proceedings such as mediation or arbitration. The reporters can also be used for documenting a public event, religious event, or educational services. A stenography machine will often be used for court reporting, which is a machine linked to a computer, a digital recorder and a voice silencer to help the reporter take down everything that is said.

What Is A Certified Court Reporter?

A good transcriptionist, according to the National Court Reporters Association, needs to be able to type at least 225 words per minute. On the other hand, the National Verbatim Reporters Association reporters have a minimum of 250 words per minute to be certified. Any Certified Court Reporter is one who is authorized after passing a national examination that is four parts. The Federal Government will only employ those that have also been looked upon as being Official Court Reporters. These certified reporters are fully mandated to take on continuous education so that they can update their skills. Stenographers can also be employed by a university, in a court, by a television network, insurance firm, or a religious organization.

Court Reporting Services

These services consist of preparing a written transcript for a litigation proceeding, investigation proceeding, trial or hearing proceeding. Outside the courtroom, the court typists will offer services such as the research of and collection of data. Additionally, the reporter will sometimes travel to different locations with a lawyer to help with documentation of investigation results and to transcribe any interviews with clients and witnesses.

It is important that they hold transcriptions of testimony, litigation proceedings, and rulings so that they can offer them up to the court whenever necessary.

The court reporter is a career path that has progressed from a stenographer that takes notes using shorthand to someone who is very qualified and has the technical knowledge and ability to take down 225-250 words a minute by using digital equipment and computers for transcription for certain events while maintaining the utmost professionalism.