Image 01
  • Home
  • Services
    • Legal Videographer | Video Depositions
    • National Certified Court Reporters
    • Wisconsin Court Reporters
    • Deposition Reporting
    • Certified Court Reporters
    • Conference Rooms
    • Videography
    • Video Conferencing
    • Case Management
    • – Case Management Tools
    • Nationwide Coverage
  • About
    • Principals
    • Helpful Info
    • Our Team
  • Schedule
  • Blog
  • Contact
Toll Free 800.456.9531
Blog

Your Wisconsin Deposition Headquarters

Subscribe

For monthly updates on court reporting news, sign up for our free newsletter!

 Subscribe in a reader

  • Office Hours: M-F, 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    Phone: 414-224-9533

    After Hours

    414.581.1597
    414.704.5993
  • Archives

    • June 2015
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • December 2011

Brown & Jones Court Reporting Blog

« 4 Ways to Find Conference Rooms for Your Out-of-Town Deposition
What Makes a Great Court Reporter? (21 TIPS) »

What Does a Court Reporter Do?

Court Reporter

What is a court reporter?

If you’ve ever seen a court stenographer in court, or on movies and television shows, you may have wondered what they really do.  We are the person who sits in the court room or in a deposition, who takes down every spoken word during the proceedings.  We prepare official transcripts for use by attorneys, judges and litigants.  These transcripts are used as the official record of the events that took place during the deposition, hearing or trial.  We are responsible for certifying that what has been entered is accurate and true to the best of our ability.

What preparation does a reporter go through to begin a career in court reporting? 

To become a court reporter, we have gone through college programs that teach us the skill of steno writing at a very high level of speed and accuracy.  It can take 2 to 5 years to reach the level of skill that is required to receive certification to work as a court reporter.  We have to demonstrate that we can write at a speed of 225 words per minute, with 97 percent accuracy.

What does it take to be a court reporter? 

Court reporters need excellent communication, organizational and time management skills.  We have the ability to work in a high-pressure environment. We know how to work under a deadline.  The documents we prepare are the only official account of the court proceedings and are vital to the credibility of the judicial system.  We take this responsibility very seriously.

Who hires a court reporter?  

Attorneys and corporations hire freelance reporters when they have a need for an accurate and complete record of proceedings, such as depositions, board of director meetings, stockholder minutes or other legal proceedings. 

How do court reporters make the record?

Court reporters use a computer and stenotype machine to take down the spoken words they hear.  The stenotype machine allows the reporter to use a form of shorthand by using sounds of words to record data.  The computer uses software called computer-aided transcription to translate the information into English. 

What technology do court reporters need to know?

Over the years, technology has changed the way in which we do our job. Court reporters are using more advanced technology to provide instant transcription in rough draft form on computer screens while the proceeding is in session.  This is called realtime translation.  This technology is also used to allow the deaf and hard-of-hearing community access to what is happening in a live classroom, meeting or theater. This skill is also used to caption live television shows, such as newscasts.  Court reporting technology now often involves videoconferencing, live internet streams, specialized print programs for transcript formatting, just to name a few technologies.

Our profession is a quiet one. We are always in the background, patiently taking down every word that is spoken, sometimes working in very difficult, emotional and trying circumstances, but we always protect the record. We know how important the role is that we play in the legal system, and we are proud to be the guardians of the record.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Jones is a court reporter, Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Brown & Jones Reporting, Inc. Connect with her on LinkedIn and Google+.

Tags: court reporters

This entry was posted on Monday, July 1st, 2013 at 6:34 am and is filed under All Posts, Court Reporting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

One Response to “What Does a Court Reporter Do?”

  1. Susan Kay Says:
    July 2nd, 2013 at 11:15 am

    Although court reporters are “quiet,” we speak loud and clear to individuals through our realtime capabilities. We are a very unique group!!!

Leave a Reply

 
  • Brown & Jones
    735 North Water Street
    Milwaukee, WI 53202
    Tel (414) 224-9533
    Toll-Free (800) 456-9531
    Fax (414) 224-9635
  • Home
  • Services
  • About
  • Schedule
  • Blog
  • Contact

  • © 2012 All Rights Reserved.