10 Misconceptions About Court Reporting Careers Misconceptions About Court Reporting Careers ... The court reporting industry is dying, ... 10 Misconceptions About Court Reporting

10 Misconceptions About Court

Reporting Careers (and the Truth Behind Them)

IntroductionAccording to the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), U.S. court reporters continue

to set the standards for capturing the record. It’s a career that has its roots in preserving

history for the ages, and even though “scribes” no longer use pen and paper, technology has

served only to enhance this honorable profession.

Court reporting as a career is never boring and never dull. Okay, sometimes the testimonies

aren’t exactly exciting after lunch when everyone wants a nap, but for the most part, you’ll

find exhilaration, daily challenges and even glamour as a court reporter! For example, the

television show Divorce Court sometimes had the court reporter interview the litigants prior

to the show; the judge would review their statements during the taping.

Jean Dexter, RPR, CRR and Nikki Peters, RPR, CRR (the title RPR is “Registered Professional

Reporter,” and CRR is “Certified Realtime Reporter.”) said they focused on their sense of

purpose during the notorious Casey Anthony trial. You might think the network coverage and

media presence were the biggest challenge, but that would be another misconception. Because

they were translating in real time (as the words were spoken, the judge, defense, prosecution

and defendant all had access to the court reporter’s computer; they could “see” the words

almost as soon as they were said), the pressure was enormous to be extremely accurate.

There are misconceptions and misinformation about almost every career, but court

reporting seems to have more than its share of myths and mistaken beliefs about the job

itself. As Galileo Galilei said, “All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered;

the point is to discover them.” Let’s review ten of them and discover the truths behind

the misconceptions.

10 Misconceptions About Court Reporting Careers

(and the Truth Behind Them)

That particular misconception has been around for years, and started about the time that voice and speech

technology made an appearance in the 1990s. It wasn’t true then, and it isn’t true now. CRC (Court Reporters

Clearinghouse) National says quite simply what everyone should know: “When it comes to transcription, the human

ear can do the job more efficiently. Computers, speech-to-text technology and recognition software fail to recognize

and pick up double meaning and the figurative nature of speech. In short, there is no substitution for human

analytics in court reporting.”

Court reporters welcome technological advances, because as technology evolves, the role of a court reporter adapts

to include new skills. Today, a court reporter may be responsible for creating video depositions in addition to

documenting the spoken words. The text and the video have to be properly synced and sectioned for reference by

the attorneys or the judge. In addition to stenographic skills, court reporters are leading the technology industry

advances by using technological media to enhance reporting in judicial and other business settings.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is your best reference source for up-to-date information about all jobs in the

U.S., and it predicts an increase in the court reporting career outlook through 2024. Of the technological trend in

court reporting, the BLS says, “Even with the increased use of digital recorders, court reporters should still be

needed to monitor the courtroom equipment and to transcribe, verify and supervise the production of transcripts

after proceedings have been recorded.”



1. Court reporting careers will be obsolete in a few years.

In 2015, it was reported that court reporter jobs are increasing faster than the BLS predicted, and by 2018,

there should be as many as 5,500 new open court reporter jobs available. In 2014 the NCRA predicted a

five-year shortage of court reporters. The truth about this misconception is, the court reporting industry is

retiring, and entry-level court reporters are needed now more than ever!

Our nation’s largest population (Baby Boomers) were born between 1946-1964, and only one-third of them are

still working. Gallup.com says the older members of this population – in their late 60s – might consider working

part-time, but this I-want-it-NOW group of seniors are welcoming retirement with the same zest as they

embraced working! In 2014, 70 percent of the nation’s court reporters were over the age of 46, and NCRA

predicted, “The demand for court reporters will exceed supply within five years.”



2. The court reporting industry is dying, not growing.



Maybe! There are so many paths a court reporter can follow, and judicial court reporting is one of them.

The fact is, court jobs usually require experienced court reporters. Another stipulation may be that the court

reporter be certified and a graduate of a recognized court reporting school. The New York State Supreme Court,

for example, requires at least 3 years of experience.

There are many entry-level jobs available to court reporters, especially in New York, Texas and California. A

large number of entry-level jobs involve working with law offices.

And don’t feel guilty about getting paid for on-the-job time while also getting paid to provide transcripts and

copies to interested parties! You’ve made an investment in your career by going to court reporting school and

buying or leasing stenographic equipment. Whether you work full-time or part-time, your home office supplies

(computer, printer, software, toner cartridges, paper, binders and presentation folders, etc) add up. You are

seldom paid for the time you spend transcribing, and that’s why transcriptions are priced separately; so that

your time and expenses will be covered.

3. Once I finish court reporting school, I’ll probably be working in the courts.



Some of the professions that are available to court reporters include:

Rapid Data EntryYou may be an entry-level court reporter, but your rapid data entry skills are above and beyond “fast.” Some court reporters work for large corporations, small companies, government and medical industries, for example. Even the fastest, skilled typist can’t compete with a trained professional using a stenotype machine for word processing. The best typists average 100 words per minute (wpm). As a new court reporter, you’ll be averaging 200 wpm or more.

It’s important to study medical terminology and its usage by physicians and other healthcare professionals. Medical as well as legal transcriptionists often work from audiocassettes or other dictated recording media rather than from real time spoken words.

ScopistOne way to “get your foot in the door” for judicial court reporting is to work as a scopist, someone who proofreads and edits transcripts for court reporters. You will probably be able to work at home, because your copy of the proceedings could be an email attachment or on a computer connected to the court reporter’s machine. An example of a common mistranslation that you would correct might be the ever-popular “there,” “their” and “they’re.”

Real time reportingHow many jobs are available to real time reporters? You won’t be able to count all of them; there are just too many different categories and levels of real time reporting needed, and many court reporters choose this as a career instead of judicial court reporting. Press conferences, sales meetings, sporting events, cyber meetings and conferences, conference calls, educational lectures and classes . . . almost all of these gatherings require documentation of the spoken word.

CART professionalThe Americans with Disabilities Act revision of 2014 defines the right to information for all U.S. citizens, and makes it necessary to provide closed captioning services to the deaf or hearing impaired. CART professionals may be able to work at a slower pace to provide closed captioning for pre-recorded television events and programs, but the wpm ability to work real time is critical. CART services are so in-demand now that there are not enough court reporters available to fill the demand.

As of 2015, more than half (63%) of the court reporter members of NCRA worked freelance; 32% worked regularly within the court systems.



You probably text faster than your older relatives typed in days gone by, even professional secretaries! Here’s

one misconception that truly needs to be corrected “for the record.” How well or how fast you type on your

computer or other media doesn’t impact becoming a court reporter, because so many other skills are required.

The truth is, traditional typing hasn’t got much to do with stenographic typing. A court reporter uses a machine

that makes typing fast – and accurately – a new skill that you have to learn, because you don’t type on a tradi-

tional keyboard.

The keys on a stenograph machine represent sounds rather than words. You have to forget the way words are

spelled and focus on how they sound when spoken. Instead of the 101 keys on a traditional keyboard, your

machine will have 22 unmarked keys. The keyboard is divided into 2 main sections for your left and right hands,

and your thumbs rest on another level in the middle.

Important skills and personal qualities needed to be a court reporter include:

4. I’m not great at typing, so this probably isn’t a career for me.

• The ability to listen, understand and type at the same time.

• A good work ethic.

• A positive attitude toward life and work.

• Above-average promptness and consistency of the quality of your work.

• Being able to keep confidential and protected information to yourself.

• Dependability.

• Eagerness to learn and curiosity/interest in diverse topics.

• Excellent organizational skills.

• Flexibility in hours and work locations.

• Mature enough to be able to keep your feelings to yourself (No matter how funny the situation, you never laugh unless the judge laughs, and even then, it could be a problem).

• The ability to focus and concentrate.



Actually, some of the core classes required for a degree in court reporting can be taken online, but be very wary of

organizations that offer complete court reporter education and training online. For most people, learning how to

operate a stenograph machine is best accomplished when you are surrounded by other students and led by a

professional instructor. It’s not a complicated machine, but operating it properly is critical to your success.

Ask around. There doesn’t seem to be many active court reporters who completely earned their degree or

certification online. What’s most important is that you choose your court reporter school from one of the accredited

institutions. Your school should be recognized by your state’s Department of Education as well as the NCRA. Online

“degree mills” often have prices that are too good to be true, because their reputation and student accomplishments

aren’t as important as profits.

Find out if previous credits will transfer into your court reporter program or transfer from your school to another, if

necessary. And be wary if your student advisor pressures you into enrolling now in order to get into a program that

is only available now. Be very cautious if a college that offers an online degree does not have a physical campus.

Also, all reputable colleges and universities work with financial aid programs and can help you find grants or student

loans that will assist you in your efforts to complete your education. If they do not offer special tuition benefits for

veterans, for example, you might want to steer clear.

The NCRA website lists 43 schools in the U.S. that “meet the General Requirements and Minimum Standards (GRMS)

established by the Council on Approved Student Education (CASE) of the National Court Reporters Association,”

earning the right to describe themselves as NCRA Certified.

5. Can’t I just go to an online school for court reporting?



Court reporting is often cited as being one of the few well-paying careers that you can have with a two-year degree.

It’s very difficult to graduate from any post-secondary school without debt, but if you complete your Associate of

Occupational Science (AOS) degree in Court Reporting or certification in Communication Access Realtime Translation

(CART), you can be happily working an entry-level job while your peers have only halfway completed their studies.

Remember, a respected, accredited school will work with you to explore every avenue of educational financial

aid that is available to you. More importantly, your financial advisor will make sure the payments you make

after you graduate will be affordable and reasonable, based on your salary as a new court reporter. Of course,

if you work in one of the higher-paying areas of the country (California, New York or Texas), you’ll be able to pay

off education loans faster.

You can earn your Stenotype Court Reporter degree by successfully completing 72 hours of coursework. Some of

your costs and time are impacted by how many classes you are able to take each term. There is no such thing as an

“average” student these days; your lifestyle and time management will determine how fast you can complete the

court reporter program.

Your instructor can help you understand the different types of stenograph machines that are available to purchase

or rent. A new shorthand machine and tripod can cost about $1,775, but used ones are sometimes a good choice if

you’re tightly budgeted.

Tuition payments directly to your school can be arranged with auto-pay; some institutions charge an additional

5% administrative fee if you elect to pay month-to-month. Flexible payment plans are available, and if you’re

a veteran or active military, be sure to learn about tuition reimbursements and discounts that are available to

you, thanks to your service!

6. Court reporting school is too expensive.



Grants and student loans

It’s never too soon to begin researching the grants and student loan programs available in the U.S. and your state. Some of the programs you can take advantage of include:

Federal Work Study Program – There are a limited number of part-time jobs to help pay the cost of your education; see if you qualify for one!

Parent PLUS Loan – Parents of dependent students may be able to borrow a Federal Direct Student Loan to finance the full cost of your education. Eligibility depends on a good credit history, but even with a bad credit history, if an endorser supports your parents’ financial stability, this loan may be available.

Pell Grant – This Federal program is based on financial need and does not need to be repaid. For example, for the 2016–17 award year (July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017), the maximum award to eligible students is $5,815.

SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant) – This is offered in addition to the Pell grant, and the maximum award is $4,000.

Stafford Loan – This Federal Direct Student Loan is available to most students and the interest on the loan may be subsidized to lower your costs.

TAP (New York State Tuition Assistance Program) – TAP does not need to be repaid. Depending on when you apply, your TAP award can be as high as $4,000 per year.

The valuable skills and knowledge you will gain as a student of court reporting are priceless. Not only is court reporting school affordable, it can lead to a diversity of jobs outside the courtroom!



What do you want to be when you grow up? Perhaps we should begin asking people, “What do you want to be when

you grow?” Unlike our bodies, our minds don’t age; they continue to grow in knowledge and understanding. In fact,

many late-in-life post-secondary school students say they wish they’d known then what they know now, but maybe

that’s not possible. Maybe some people have to learn from experience and need the time to grow into themselves.

It’s simply never too late to become the person you want to be, with the career that brings excitement into your

life every day.

“Throughout the years, I have received emails from people all over the USA, people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, asking,

‘Am I too old?’ I ask what the person is looking for, if they are a disciplined-type person, and promise there is work

and will be work, but only if you are great! I believe that if someone has made the decision to go to court reporting

school, they should not worry about if they made the right decision, but spend time and energy to ensure that the

decision turns out right . . . There is great work waiting for anyone . . . I promise.” –Kramm Court Reporting

The advantages of becoming a late-in-life student are numerous; you have better focus, more patience, and the

kind of understanding that comes with life experiences. Baby Boomer court reporters worldwide may be retiring

in record numbers, but they are also included as “non-traditional students” in post-secondary school education.

This demographic continues to embrace change and challenge, so if you’re 50 . . . 40 . . . 30 . . . what in the world

is stopping you?

7. I’m too old to start a new career.



In the beginning of this historic profession, all scribes and court reporters were men, from Marcus Tullius Tiro

(Cicero’s slave who invented a shorthand system for quick transcription) through the 20th century, when women

discovered this profession that was challenging, exciting, paid well and that accepted them without prejudice.

For years, the movies and television programs almost always featured women court reporters, maybe because

“back in the olden days” of the 1940s and ‘50s, the income was considered to be more “supplemental” rather than

head-of-household earnings. Fast-forward to now, where the heads of the household can be either men, women

or both. As the court reporting salary has become much more than a living wage, the numbers are changing, and

rapidly.

Another, more recent historic reason why there were more female court reporters is there are no “glass ceilings”

in the court reporting industry. Whether male or female, court reporters can earn competitive wages based on

their worth, not their gender.

VITAC is one of the largest closed captioning and media access companies in the U.S. Their male real time closed

captioners (who are trained court reporters) agree that the gender difference no longer matters. “The focus is on

your skill level, your certifications, and more importantly, your professionalism,” said one court reporter.

The ratio of men to women in this career is increasing more each year. As of 2015, over 1,900 members of the

NCRA were men.

British author Charles Dickens and music producer Phil Spector were men who worked as court reporters. Harvey

Keitel was shy, and he became a court reporter so that he “wouldn’t have to talk to anyone.” Then he decided to

be a rich-and-famous movie star. Being a court reporter can certainly build your confidence!

8. Isn’t the court reporting field mostly women?



That’s correct: real time writing isn’t important, it’s critical. Judicial, or “official” court reporters use stenographic machines to assist in real time reporting; that’s why their speeds are so much higher than professional typists.

The demand for certified real time captioners began increasing in urgency in 2014, with 2015 being a pivotal year for this trending profession. Real time captioning is different from judicial real time reporting, and requires greater expertise and a larger dictionary of terminology. The Certified Realtime Captioner (CRC) certification is for those court reporters who want to be among the leaders in this flagship industry.

Captioning is now necessary for all televised programming and major sporting events as well as many public-access venues hearing impaired or deaf patrons attend. The government has ruled that hearing challenged people have the same right to information as those who are not. Captioning will be mandatory for new television programs and commercials.

“Real time” literally means creating a transcription almost as soon as the words are spoken. It’s sometimes called “online” captioning and it takes place onsite. These captioners often work freelance and are able to travel. It’s needed at live events like government press conferences and meetings, conventions, sporting events – anywhere it’s necessary for attendees or audience-viewers to see the words within 2-3 seconds of when they are spoken. The real time captioner shares the information on computer screens, big-screen monitors or televisions. Offline captioning can be done later, on site or from your home office, because you have time to create and edit before the event is broadcast.

Real time writing jobs are so competitive that the Board of Directors of the NCRA combined two types of certifications, Certified Broadcast Captioner (CBC) and Certified CART Provider (CCP) to create the CRC; this certification identifies the elite and educated who are among the most qualified real time captioners in the United States. The CRC increases a court reporter’s’ job opportunities in this dynamic and ever-changing field.

In 2015, candidates for the CRC were required to attend a continuing education workshop that included a written exam and a skills test that required transcription of dictated material at a minimum of 180 wpm. The first CRC court reporters were announced January 1, 2016.

If you are among the “best of the best” court reporters and qualify for Certified Realtime Captioner certification, your name will be listed in the Journal of Court Reporting, the Court Reporter Sourcebook and on the NCRA website.

9. Real time writing isn’t important.



Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, if you’re a slow typist on a traditional keyboard, you may find

stenographic court reporting opens a door to a whole new world of typing!

Court reporting is not a glorified typing job! It requires another, different typing skillset plus several personal

qualities (The ability to focus without distraction is one) and tendencies (Organization in every endeavor is a good

example). It’s important that you have good listening skills because you’ll need them to provide written words that

capture, real time, what’s being said.

The Guinness world record for stenographic typing is 360 wpm with 97.23% accuracy. No one typing on a computer

keyboard has ever reached that speed. Here’s why:

Court reporters, data entry professionals and real time closed captioners use stenograph machines, not laptops.

Instead of typing words, they type syllable sounds, called “phonemes.” A stenograph machines has only 22 keys that

represent the phonemes, and they are unmarked. Your thumbs rest on a middle key and your other fingers type on

the left or right side of the keypad.

The only way you can become a successful court reporter is with practice.

Speed is critical, and the only way to build that speed is with practice. Lee Bursten, CRR, RMR, says as a student, she

spent hours of daily practice. But as a court reporter, she found that she needed to continue to practice. “. . . It never

would have occurred to me to practice after I graduated from school. I was working – why should I practice?” she

asks. One reason you need to practice after graduation is to build speed and accuracy for national certifications,

like the Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) and Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR).

The main reason you will practice every day is because you want to be recognized as being one of the best in your profession!

10. It’s just typing; I don’t need to practice.

Why court reporting at NYCI?For more than 75 years, New York Careers Institute has proactively assisted its court reporting students toward

better careers and better lives with personalized instruction and counseling services as well as an open-door

policy in our Financial Services department. What that means is, you have access to real people who really do

care about helping you make the right short-term financial decisions to ensure your long-term financial stability.

That’s just one of the things that sets NYCI a world apart from other court reporting schools.

Here’s another: Your Career Services professional is available before you enroll and after you graduate, because

just as you’ve invested in your future with time and money, we’re invested in your success! While you are an

NYCI student, our Internship program can connect you with real-world businesses that can offer you on-the-job

or industry-specific opportunities. This program could be your first networking opportunity, and we’ll encourage

you to build referral connections while taking advantage of a hands-on learning environment.

Through the Career Services department, you’ll learn how to create a strong resume and cover letter, develop

your professional portfolio, practice interview strategies and utilize job resources. While enrolled or as one of

many NYCI alumni, you can take advantage of Lifetime Placement Assistance, Career Opportunity Referral, Job

Search Strategy Assistance and Continuing Education advisement.

Another initiative that many larger U.S. universities don’t offer is mentoring. Whether you’re just out of high

school or moving toward a new career, as a new student you’ll have questions and concerns. To make your

transition easier, NYCI can assign a faculty or staff mentor to incoming students. Your mentor will help you find

the support services you need, when you need them, and may become someone who offers valuable guidance

long after you’ve transitioned into your program.

Now that you’ve eliminated the misconceptions about court reporting and discovered the truth, let’s take

discovery to the next level!



SCHEDULE A V IS IT

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10 Misconceptions About Court Reporting Careers Misconceptions About Court Reporting Careers ... The court reporting industry is dying, ... 10 Misconceptions About Court Reporting