Court Reporters & Simultaneous Captioners

information conventional interests record spelling of words english language legal document file accordance captions

Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR), Court Reporter, Court Stenographer, Official Court Reporter

What they do:
Use verbatim methods and equipment to capture, store, retrieve, and transcribe pretrial and trial proceedings or other information. Includes stenocaptioners who operate computerized stenographic captioning equipment to provide captions of live or prerecorded broadcasts for hearing-impaired viewers.
On the job, you would:
  • Record verbatim proceedings of courts, legislative assemblies, committee meetings, and other proceedings, using computerized recording equipment, electronic stenograph machines, or stenomasks.
  • Proofread transcripts for correct spelling of words.
  • Ask speakers to clarify inaudible statements.

Knowledge

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Business

  • administrative services
  • customer service

Engineering and Technology

  • computers and electronics

Safety and Government

  • law and government

Skills

Basic Skills

  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • writing things for co-workers or customers

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal

  • listen and understand what people say
  • communicate by writing

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include data, detail, and regular routines.

They do well at jobs that need:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Independence
  • Integrity
  • Self Control
  • Stress Tolerance

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Word processing software

  • Advantage Software Total Eclipse
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology

Data base user interface and query software

  • Acclaim Legal Acclaim DepoManage
  • OMTI ReporterBase

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

  • Acculaw Court Reporters Billing Scheduling Job Management System ABSMS
  • ReporterWorks

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
certificate after high school or
associate's degree
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Below Average
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
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