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
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Stentura 8000 For Sale - Great Value
Providing fast, reliable service for court reporters!
For Sale ~ Stentura 8000
$1,250, shipping extra
Good, reliable machine. Has been serviced — comes with tripod, soft carrying case, paper tray, battery, charger, realtime cable and manual.
Good writer. Reporter has upgraded to a Mira.
Contact OTEC ~ Call, 206.284.7492 or email catadyer@oteconline.com with your questions.
For Sale ~ Stentura 8000
$1,250, shipping extra
Good, reliable machine. Has been serviced — comes with tripod, soft carrying case, paper tray, battery, charger, realtime cable and manual.
Good writer. Reporter has upgraded to a Mira.
Contact OTEC ~ Call, 206.284.7492 or email catadyer@oteconline.com with your questions.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
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
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
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Pacific Northwest Court Reporter Combined Convention
WASHINGTON, OREGON, IDAHO & MAYBE MONTANA COMBINED COURT REPORTER CONVENTION
Seattle, WA. This information was relayed to the Beagle that a possible four-state court reporter association combined convention is being planned for Hood River, Oregon, which is situated along the Columbia River.
Word has it that the dates are October 2, 3 and 4, which by my calendar is the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the month. I've been to Hood River over the years and I know that the weather should be stunning and as I recall that time of the year the local apple harvest should be fully underway.
Keep looking here for more information regarding this event.
~ The Beagle
Seattle, WA. This information was relayed to the Beagle that a possible four-state court reporter association combined convention is being planned for Hood River, Oregon, which is situated along the Columbia River.
Word has it that the dates are October 2, 3 and 4, which by my calendar is the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the month. I've been to Hood River over the years and I know that the weather should be stunning and as I recall that time of the year the local apple harvest should be fully underway.
Keep looking here for more information regarding this event.
~ The Beagle
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Seattle Washington Court Reporter
Roger G. Flygare & Associates, Inc., Professional Court Reporters, Legal Video and Transcriptionists.
Federal Way, WA ~ November 28, 2008. Roger Flygare states that court reporting requests have increased over the past year and expects that to be a continuing trend. He also stated that the use of video conferencing has also increased due largely to the increased costs of travel.
Courthouses in Washington, especially the lower courts and family courts, have turned to using audio recording and to a limited amount in superior courts of Washington. Mr. Flygare said in his experience thus far that the quality isn't all that great and that there are a lot of inaudibles or undeciferables because of poor microphone reception. He noted that some states have jettisoned that practice and have started hiring more certified court reporters.
He relayed a story concerning a video trial in which a long-time client of his turned to Flygare & Associates for advice. Mr. Flygare informed the lawyer that the particular courtroom the trial was going to held in was a videotaped courtroom and that if the lawyer felt that this case may go up to the Court of Appeals that he should consider hiring one of their real-time reporters, which they ultimately followed his advice and hired a real-time reporter for the duration of the trial.
It turned out to be a very wise choice in that the audio portion of the videotaped trial failed for a number of days before it was discovered that a microphone wasn't working properly and ultimately they had to turn to the court reporter to provide a complete record in which to appeal to a higher court.
In the Beagle's blog, you can see there are a number of such failures in courthouses across the country and I think it would be an intelligent and informed idea to consult with a local court reporting agency if you have an important trial coming up down the road.
It's the Beagle's thought, though, that all trials are important...sort of a "caveat emptor" for the trial lawyer.
May the gavel fall your direction ~ The Beagle
Federal Way, WA ~ November 28, 2008. Roger Flygare states that court reporting requests have increased over the past year and expects that to be a continuing trend. He also stated that the use of video conferencing has also increased due largely to the increased costs of travel.
Courthouses in Washington, especially the lower courts and family courts, have turned to using audio recording and to a limited amount in superior courts of Washington. Mr. Flygare said in his experience thus far that the quality isn't all that great and that there are a lot of inaudibles or undeciferables because of poor microphone reception. He noted that some states have jettisoned that practice and have started hiring more certified court reporters.
He relayed a story concerning a video trial in which a long-time client of his turned to Flygare & Associates for advice. Mr. Flygare informed the lawyer that the particular courtroom the trial was going to held in was a videotaped courtroom and that if the lawyer felt that this case may go up to the Court of Appeals that he should consider hiring one of their real-time reporters, which they ultimately followed his advice and hired a real-time reporter for the duration of the trial.
It turned out to be a very wise choice in that the audio portion of the videotaped trial failed for a number of days before it was discovered that a microphone wasn't working properly and ultimately they had to turn to the court reporter to provide a complete record in which to appeal to a higher court.
In the Beagle's blog, you can see there are a number of such failures in courthouses across the country and I think it would be an intelligent and informed idea to consult with a local court reporting agency if you have an important trial coming up down the road.
It's the Beagle's thought, though, that all trials are important...sort of a "caveat emptor" for the trial lawyer.
May the gavel fall your direction ~ The Beagle
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Longtime court reporter of the Illinois Judicial System Past Away
Longtime court employee dies at 87
MUSKEGON -- A longtime Muskegon County 60th District Court recorder and judicial secretary has died.
Mona-Eileen Byrnes died Monday at age 87.
Byrnes had a long history with local courts. She was employed as the registrar of Muskegon County Juvenile Court and later worked in several law offices and in various capacities for district court, including court reporter and judicial secretary from 1969 until her retirement in 1983.
She was a graduate of Muskegon High School and later enlisted in the USN WAVES, a World War II-era division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women.
She attended boot camp at Hunter's College in New York, graduated from Chicago School of Aviation Instruments and was stationed at Alameda Naval Air Station in California.
In addition to her court experience, Byrnes owned and operated a transcription service, Gal Friday, for 54 years out of her home. She was also a two-term president for Catholic War Vets Post 843 Auxiliary.
She is survived by five children and her husband of 62 years, Thomas J. Byrnes, Sr.
A funeral service took place on Friday in Oviedo, Fla., where she lived at the time of her death.
MUSKEGON -- A longtime Muskegon County 60th District Court recorder and judicial secretary has died.
Mona-Eileen Byrnes died Monday at age 87.
Byrnes had a long history with local courts. She was employed as the registrar of Muskegon County Juvenile Court and later worked in several law offices and in various capacities for district court, including court reporter and judicial secretary from 1969 until her retirement in 1983.
She was a graduate of Muskegon High School and later enlisted in the USN WAVES, a World War II-era division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women.
She attended boot camp at Hunter's College in New York, graduated from Chicago School of Aviation Instruments and was stationed at Alameda Naval Air Station in California.
In addition to her court experience, Byrnes owned and operated a transcription service, Gal Friday, for 54 years out of her home. She was also a two-term president for Catholic War Vets Post 843 Auxiliary.
She is survived by five children and her husband of 62 years, Thomas J. Byrnes, Sr.
A funeral service took place on Friday in Oviedo, Fla., where she lived at the time of her death.
Colorado Court Reporter School Now Open
Colorado Tech To Offer Court Reporter Degree
People worried about their jobs in this tight economy may want to bring their resumes to the judge's chambers. Courtrooms across country are scrambling to fill openings as court reporters.
Colorado Technical University will soon offer classes to those interested in the field. Court reporters have a front row seat to the legal system. They put every word spoken in court onto the printed page as part of the official transcript. It's a demanding job that's in more demand than ever before.
"They're taking several hundred words a minute and they have to take it 100-percent accurately and obviously they have to be totally focused on what is at hand," Chief Justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court David Gilbertson said.Many schools quit teaching court reporting thinking technology would eventually replace the position.
But recording legal proceedings electronically runs the risk of technical glitches, so the human touch will always be needed. "I would compare it to an auto mechanic. Fifty years ago, auto mechanics fixed your car, even though technology changed the way cars are repaired.
Today, you still need that auto mechanic, you can't have a machine fix your car," Gilbertson said.
Court reporters can earn $35,000 a year just starting out. Plus, thousands more in transcript fees. But job security might be the biggest perk of all.
"Right now, we have economic problems, but there's no court reporters being laid off. They're still getting paid," Gilbertson said.Until now, the closest schools offering court reporting classes is in Anoka, Minnesota and Green River Community College in Auburn, Washington with classes beginning January 2009. Colorado Tech in Sioux Falls begins its classes in January 2009 for two- and four-year degrees.
People worried about their jobs in this tight economy may want to bring their resumes to the judge's chambers. Courtrooms across country are scrambling to fill openings as court reporters.
Colorado Technical University will soon offer classes to those interested in the field. Court reporters have a front row seat to the legal system. They put every word spoken in court onto the printed page as part of the official transcript. It's a demanding job that's in more demand than ever before.
"They're taking several hundred words a minute and they have to take it 100-percent accurately and obviously they have to be totally focused on what is at hand," Chief Justice of the South Dakota Supreme Court David Gilbertson said.Many schools quit teaching court reporting thinking technology would eventually replace the position.
But recording legal proceedings electronically runs the risk of technical glitches, so the human touch will always be needed. "I would compare it to an auto mechanic. Fifty years ago, auto mechanics fixed your car, even though technology changed the way cars are repaired.
Today, you still need that auto mechanic, you can't have a machine fix your car," Gilbertson said.
Court reporters can earn $35,000 a year just starting out. Plus, thousands more in transcript fees. But job security might be the biggest perk of all.
"Right now, we have economic problems, but there's no court reporters being laid off. They're still getting paid," Gilbertson said.Until now, the closest schools offering court reporting classes is in Anoka, Minnesota and Green River Community College in Auburn, Washington with classes beginning January 2009. Colorado Tech in Sioux Falls begins its classes in January 2009 for two- and four-year degrees.
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