People are attracted to the court reporting profession for a lot of reasons. It's a respected position and an experienced reporter can make a generous income. Jobs are available anywhere in the country, and telecommuting technology means that a reporter in Nebraska might be doing Florida court reporting.
Some people are drawn to the profession because of the job's flexibility. It is important to understand that the flexibility works both ways. Often court reporters will have periods of freedom to enjoy personal activities while other people are at their regular jobs. However the position makes demands on a reporter's time and sometimes it is the reporter who must be flexible.
Court Cases Don't Wait For You
The traditional court reporting role is documenting legal proceedings in court. It's safe to assume that the judge isn't going to be receptive to rescheduling a hearing just because the reporter wants to go to his kid's birthday party.
Court reporters have to be available at the court's convenience. Since courts run typical business hours, this usually isn't too much of a burden. Most people can be available from 8 to 5 on weekdays. Court reporters can schedule days off just like any other employee. If you aren't going to be available on a certain day they will have a staff of other reporters who can fill in, although they will need to be notified in advance.
There are many court reporting jobs that aren't on such rigid schedules. If you need to document a deposition, you can often schedule that around your needs. Court reporters are used to closed caption pre-recorded videos, which can be done at the reporter's convenience as long as it is completed by the deadline.
The Feast or Famine Nature of Court Reporting
Another aspect of the flexibility is that, since court reporters work on demand, it is common for them to have lots of work followed by a lull. A reporter might have to work during the day at a court proceeding then spend hours in the evening producing a transcript for the next morning.
However, long days might be followed by days off. These are the times that reporters can catch up on aspects of their lives outside of their jobs. Some people thrive in this kind of environment. To them, the difference between an 8-hour day and a 12-hour days isn't that large; it's still a day at work. By putting in a few long days, they then get several days to devote to leisure time.
Of course, some people don't like such unpredictable schedules but that doesn't mean they should avoid the profession. The skills of a talented court reporter can open other opportunities on more traditional hours including closed captioning or transcribing the notes of other reporters.
Once court reporters understand that the flexibility of the position means both benefits and responsibilities, most of them love this non-traditional work environment.
Having a record of significant company proceedings can fend off a host of problems. Written transcripts provide a clear and unbiased record of events that can defuse situations before they become problems. From resolving a simple dispute whether the deadline was the 7th or the 17th to providing critical evidence in a lawsuit, more private companies than ever are using court reporters.
How can your organization use court reporting?
The most obvious reason that businesses consult a court reporting agency is if they have a legal transaction. If there is a situation that could go to or has gone to court then an organization might need to collect depositions from concerned parties.
However there are countless everyday situations that also benefit from court reporting services. A certified court reporter acts as an impartial witness to events, providing an unbiased written record that can settle arguments in a flash.
A reporter is a skilled listener who can tell the difference between "our stock is worthless" and "our stock is worth less" or whether the union representative wants a "resolution" or a "revolution".
Some companies might record important meetings, either as an official record or to allow the meeting to be broadcast remotely to other offices. Having a written transcript of the recording is still an important component of full documentation and a court reporter can provide that quickly and accurately.
On the other hand some proceedings are broadcast to remote office live rather than on tape. Here the reporter can serve another purpose: closed captioning. A skilled reporter can provide real-time captioning for any deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers.
Most organizations use a court reporting agency
Very few organizations can justify a full-time court reporter on staff. This is a specialized skill that requires years of training and experience to do correctly. Having a reporter on staff usually means this person spends a lot of time on other duties that are often a waste of the reporter's skills.
Instead, most organizations opt to hire through a court reporting agency. The company gets a professional with extensive experience, someone who does nothing but live, real-time transcription. This avoids the problem of interviewing and hiring, background checks, and a host of other issues with having a person on staff.
Agencies also make sure that all the regulations are followed so that you know you are getting a fully-certified court reporter not just a simple transcriptionist. The difference between the two is vital if the transcript is ever used in a legal proceeding.
Reporting regulations vary from state to state so it can be difficult for a private company to ensure that a court reporter is properly licensed. For example, a Texas court reporting agency will have all of their reporters pass state certification tests because it is required by state law. Other states do not have the same licensure requirement.