Court Reporting & The Perfect Transcript

COURT REPORTING and the PERFECT TRANSCRIPT

If it exists, we all search for it, the perfect transcript is like Mona Lisa’s smile. Perfect in every way.

Free from all error. No misspeaks. Run on sentences are completely absent. The answer waits patiently for the question.

Numbers are eloquently spoken as though soft rain falling on leaves. Complex medical terms are thoughtfully spelled out by the medical professionals.

Names and addresses are provided on a slip of paper for correctness. Thoughtful attorneys ask if you need a glass of water or perhaps a stretch break.

When the clock strikes 12:00 Noon and you suggest a lunch break, you are recognized as a person; one who has normal needs. Even though they’ve been drinking water and steaming cups of coffee while you’ve been dutifully taking down every word.

When the end of the day rolls in, they all look to you and ask if it would be okay if you would get the transcript to them in a couple of weeks and they would all enjoy a copy with a thorough listing of all the extras.

You smile and say, “No, problem, I can get that to you whenever you please.”

They ask if you need help in putting away your equipment, assistance to the elevator, a final cold bottle of water to take along.

This something we all wish for but very rarely ever encounter.

~ The Beagle

The Court Reporting Industry Could Learn From This Simple Lesson!

The Mouse Story with a Moral!

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to
see the farmer and his wife open a package.

What food might this contain?'

The mouse wondered …

He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed
the warning:

’There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!’

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head
and said,’Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern
to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot
be bothered by it.’

The mouse turned to the pig and told him,
’There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!’

The pig sympathized, but said, ‘I am
so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is
nothing I can do about it but pray.
Be assured you are in my prayers.’

The mouse turned to the cow and said
’There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!’

The cow said, ‘Wow, Mr. Mouse.
I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off
my nose.’

So, the mouse returned to the
house, head down and dejected, to face
the farmer's mousetrap ...alone.

That very night a sound was heard
throughout the house -- like the sound of
a mousetrap catching its prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see what
was caught.

In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous
snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife.

The farmer rushed her to the hospital ,
and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever,
with fresh chicken soup...

So the farmer took his hatchet to
the farmyard for the soup's main
ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued, so friends
and neighbors came to sit with her around
the clock.

To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well; she died.

So many people came for her funeral,
the farmer had the cow slaughtered to
provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in
the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone
is facing a problem and think it doesn't
concern you, remember ---

When one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey called life.

We must keep an eye outfor one another and
make an extra effort to encourage one another.

REMEMBER. . . .EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD
IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY;
OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON.

One of the best things to hold onto in this world is
a FRIEND.

Have a great week and be good to yourself!

So You Want To Be A Court Reporter?

If you’ve ever longed for a career in legal, consider a career as a court reporter. Becoming a Court Reporter requires certain skills and attributes in order to succeed. Although some of these skills can be learned, if you are considering a career in Court Reporting, you should:

• Have strong English skills
• Have the ability to stay focused and concentrate for long periods of time
• Enjoy and be comfortable with technology and have the ability to learn advanced skills
• Have good keyboarding skills
• Have the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Be an audio learner – Reporters spend a great deal of time listening
• Be able to tune out background noise and get in your zone

The educational requirements to become a court reporter vary with the specialties and the type of reporting you want to pursue. You can become a novice voice writer within about a year, but a real-time stenotypist requires around three years of training. And the more experience you gain, the higher pay you will make along with working in higher profile court cases.

Court reporter training is offered by, vocational schools, technical schools, and colleges. There are many types and levels of court reporter certification, depending on the specialty chosen.

The National Court Reporters Association or NCRA and other certified programs require students to complete an approved preset curriculum, prior to being eligible to take the certification exam.

To graduate, students typically will need a machine shorthand speed of 225 words per minute or higher. The exam tests written knowledge, speed, and accuracy.

In some states, a state certification is required, which means you will need to take the exam offered by the state. Otherwise, in order to be certified, you need to take the certification exam offered by the NCRA. You should check to see what your state and the Federal Government requires in the line of education and certification for your desired specialty.

In order to maintain the certification, reporters must earn 3.0 continuing education units (CEU) every three years. One CEU equals 10 hours of additional instruction. CEU’s may be lectures, classes, or other educational experiences approved by the NCRA.

Membership with the National Court Reporters Association is an organization every student should consider. They offer an abundance of information to their members and have a reduced fee for students.

Court reporting is an exciting career. You will work alongside attorneys, judges and other legal staff in a courtroom setting. The career opportunities are good and the outlook for a position as a court reporter is growing as legal proceedings are not going to be cut back anytime soon.

If you’re interested in working in a legal career, but the thought of years of school to become an attorney sounds like to much to you, then consider a career as a court reporter. You’ll be where the action is at. In addition, the pay is excellent and the opportunities are growing every year.

Do you need statistics on court reporter salaries? Check-out the stats and facts available at http://www.careertoolkits.com

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Court Reporter Julie Ann Brandau - Killer Gets Life Sentence

He had overpowered a sheriff's deputy and took her gun before proceeding to the courtroom of Judge Rowland Barnes, killing him and court reporter Julie Ann Brandau. Sgt. Hoyt Teasley chased Nichols to outside the courthouse, where Nichols eventually killed a federal agent in an Atlanta neighborhood. Nichols had been on trial for rape in 2005 when he grabbed a guard's gun and fatally shot those in the courtroom.

Now Brian Nichols, 37, was found guilty last month of murdering those people. Superior Court Judge James Bodiford sentenced confessed courthouse murderer Brian Nichols to life without parole for the 2005 murders of a judge, court reporter, sheriff’s deputy and federal agent.

In his own words, he said it's not his DNA to stay in jail, which is what he has to look forward to the rest of his life," said Christina Greenway, daughter of slain court reporter Julie Ann Brandau. "I'm not disappointed and I have no regrets."

Perhaps for those considering Mr. Nichols for parole later on, Judge Bodiford said, "Do not trust Mr. Nichols ever again. Ever again. Because he cannot be trusted."

Justice has been served once again, says the Beagle, even though the jury could have possibly returned a harsher judgment for the terrible deeds committed by a person who took those people away permanently from their families.

~ The Beagle