|
Court reporters are some of the most important legal officials, though their role is not widely understood by the general public. The idea that a court reporter is only a stenographer is outdated; today, court reporters fulfill a number of vital functions inside the modern legal system. In order to accomplish these important jobs, a court reporter must successfully complete a rigorous training program. They have to excel academically and show technical proficiency in the use of the many specialized items of equipment that they'll use in their job as a reporter; the technology used in transcription is highly advanced and specialized training is required. Skills, Education, and Training Success in any job requires a certain set of skills and aptitudes that can't be learned in any classroom; a person must have a personality that is compatible with the work they want to do. Good court reporters are highly focused, can diligently work on a task for a long period of time, have excellent follow-through, and are able to thrive in a high-stress environment. Much of the work done by many court reporters is independent, so good self-starting skills are necessary; at the same time, a court reporter is just one of many legal officials that must be present in a courtroom for legal proceedings to go forward. Thus, the ability to work well in a team is also necessary. Rather than pursing a four-year college degree, many aspiring court reporters choose to enroll in a technical program that focuses primarily on the skills they'll need on the job. Because court reporting and similar work is a good fit for a two-year degree program, many community colleges and technical schools choose to include this program in their offerings. A professional court reporter has to have a thorough understanding of the law. To accomplish this, a student will take classes in legal terminology and courtroom procedure, the same kind of classes attended by law and pre-law students. A student enrolled in this program will also take classes in advanced English grammar, phonetics, linguistics, and communication. Learning Advanced Technology Modern court reporting requires the use of a considerable number of technical tools and devices, and before a new reporter can enter the workforce they have to demonstrate a proficiency. Steno type machines and digital recording devices are just the beginning; a number of specialized computer programs and media aids must also be learned. Certain training programs with emphasize a particular selection of tools and students can earn additional certifications as they successfully complete additional training. These certifications are relevant in many job fields in addition to court reporting. On the Job Training Increasingly, an aspiring court reporter's education will include an internship or student position at a courthouse or with a legal firm that provides court reporting services. This period is important to a student's education because it gives them first-hand experience of what it's like to work as a reporter in an active court. While a student may not have the professional certifications to take official records, they can help in many ways and gain the confidence they'll need once they land their first job. Regardless of what level court a reporter works in, he or she has to receive a certain level of training. Academic subjects, technical skills, and workplace experience are all necessary elements for success as a modern court reporter. Lawrence Reaves writes for Cook and Wiley, a court reporting firm that provides high quality court reporting and video conferencing capabilites. For more information about court reporting or video conferencning click here.
Related Articles -
court reporters, court reporting, court reporter, court,
|
