| In the criminal justice field, a career as a Court | | | | reporters often work for agencies that act as |
| Reporter provides a wide range of job opportunities. | | | | clearinghouses, locating jobs for the reporters. |
| Court reporters record court proceedings, transcribe | | | | Court reporters use a computer and a stenotype |
| depositions and pretrial proceedings, business | | | | machine to do their job. The stenotype allows the |
| proceedings, provide closed-captioning, and real-time | | | | reporter to use a form of shorthand by using sounds |
| translation services to the deaf and hard-of hearing. | | | | of words to record the data. The computer uses |
| As a Judicial Court Reporter, they transcribe every | | | | software called computer-aided transcription (CAD) to |
| spoken word and detail during court proceedings. They | | | | translate the information in English. This data can then |
| prepare official transcripts for use by attorneys, | | | | be edited, researched, transmitted, and stored until |
| judges, and litigants. These transcripts are used as the | | | | needed. |
| official documentation of the events that took place | | | | Court reporters are using more advanced technology |
| during the hearing or trial. The court reporter is | | | | to provide instant transcripts, on computer screens |
| responsible for certifying that what has been entered | | | | while the proceedings are in session. This is called |
| is accurate and true to the best of their ability, and is | | | | Communication Access Realtime Translation or |
| an account as to what took place before them. | | | | CART, and is a great help for the deaf and |
| Judicial court reporters need excellent communication, | | | | hard-of-hearing community in allowing them real time |
| organizational, and time management skills. The ability | | | | access to what is happening. |
| to work in a high-pressure environment, and meet | | | | Another field of interest for the court reporter is |
| deadlines when necessary, is a requirement of the job. | | | | Broadcast Captioners or Stenocaptioners. Using the |
| You must be able to work quickly and accurately, as | | | | stenograph machine, they enter captions of live |
| there is no room for errors. The documents you | | | | television programs for the deaf and hard-of-hearing |
| prepare are the only account of the court proceedings | | | | viewers. |
| and are vital to the credibility of the judicial system. | | | | With ever changing technology, court reporters need |
| Attorneys, corporations, and other entities hire | | | | to keep up to date with their skills and knowledge. This |
| freelance reporters when they have a need for | | | | often requires additional training to maintain their |
| accurate and complete records of things such as | | | | certification. |
| depositions, board of director meetings, stockholder | | | | This challenging and dynamic career is versatile and |
| minutes, or other legal proceedings. These freelance | | | | offers you many varied job opportunities. |