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Court reporters are a crucial part of the American justice system, capturing what is said in courtrooms, depositions, and other legal proceedings. When spoken words must be documented, it is the court reporter's job, using computer-aided transcription, to render these words into written form for legal proof, records, and legal correspondence. Court reporters also provide closed-captioning and real-time translation for the hearing-impaired. Job titles include:

• Courtroom Reporter
• Courtroom Transcriptor
• Judicial Reporter
• Judicial Transcriptor
• Courtroom Scribe
• Deposition Scribe
• Hearing Reporting Deposition Reporter
• Hearing Scribe

How to Prepare for a Court Reporting Career

Two-year associate's and four-year bachelor's degree programs in court reporting are available at many universities, colleges, and technical schools, with online and campus-based options. Court Reporting degree programs fall under the Criminal Justice Administration department at most educational institutions that offer these programs. Classes focus on: listening skills, operation of computer-aided transcription equipment, and procedures in the criminal justice system. Look for a program certified by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), which requires that students can capture a minimum of 225 words per minute ? the same requirement for Federal Government employment.Read More [+]