A Day in the Life of a Court Reporter*
As a court reporter, you will create verbatim transcripts of speeches, conversations, legal proceedings, meetings and other events. Your transcripts may be needed for correspondence, records or legal documentation. Your transcripts could be the basis of important legal decisions!
You may also be a valuable source of information. You may assist judges and trial attorneys by organizing and searching for information in the official record.
As a court reporter, you will use a stenotype machine to document all statements made in official proceedings. The machine allows you to press multiple keys simultaneously to record combinations of letters representing sounds, words or phrases. These symbols are electronically recorded and then translated and displayed as text in a process called computer-aided transcription (CAT).
Court reporters hold many important responsibilities, both before and after transcribing events. You will:
- Create and maintain a computer dictionary used to translate keystroke codes or voice files into written text
- Customize the dictionary with parts of words, entire words or terminology specific to the proceeding, program or event (such as a religious service) you plan to transcribe
- Edit the computer-generated translation for correct grammar
- Ensure accurate identification of proper names and places
- Prepare written transcripts, make copies and provide information from the transcript to courts, counsels, parties and the public on request
- Develop procedures for easy storage and retrieval of all records
Click to see your earnings potential** as a court reporter in Northeast Ohio.
* Day in the Life information gathered from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, compiled by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, found at http://www.bls.gov/OCO/.
** Incomes provided by Salary.com represent industry averages. Actual income may vary by employer, experience and skill level.
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