Have you noticed the number of court reporting groups on Facebook? Court reporters are clearly passionate about their jobs. Of course, it isn’t for everyone but if you enjoy variety and attention to detail, this is a very fulfilling career. Moreover, these days there are numerous remote court reporting jobs to give you flexibility. You can truly become your own boss.
Remote Court Reporting Jobs
Court reporters earn, on average, $60,000 per year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although, projected employment growth is slightly lower than average at 3%. Regardless, court reporters are in high demand due to a steady rate of retirements.
When looking for a career, salary is only a small part of the decision. Yes, we want to cover our costs but we also want to be happy at work. After all, we spend so much of our lives working. One of the main benefits of remote court reporting jobs is that you can manage your time. Most importantly, you enjoy the same variety and responsibility as if you were working face-to-face.
Court cases are always different. You might find yourself researching different aspects of the law or even various industries. Perhaps you’re covering a biotech M&A dispute? Alternatively, you could be working on a medical malpractice case or litigation for a Pharma company. These are often heavily publicized and it’s motivating to know that you’re supporting justice in the public arena.
With remote court reporting jobs, you not only manage your time but also who you work for. Many experienced court reporters become independent contractors and are fully in control of their portfolio of clients. Of course, it might take a few years to build up the expertise and network to operate alone. Nevertheless, remote court reporting jobs are also commonly advertised by court reporting firms.
Apart from flexibility, you can also enjoy these benefits with remote court reporting jobs:
- Constant learning
- Large support network
- Impactful
Constant learning
With the wide range of topics you get to cover, life as a court reporter is never boring. Moreover, you get to explore the intricacies of the legal system and are exposed to different teams of attorneys and a range of judges.
Large support network
You might worry that remote court reporting jobs can get lonely. On the contrary, you are always connected through various chat groups with your colleagues. On top of that, court reporters are always ready to help and you can easily connect with new people on social media and online forums.
Impactful
Remote court reporting jobs need professionals who uphold the justice system. There’s nothing more respectful and honorable. Court reporters also often talk about the numerous times attorneys have thanked them. Effectively, attorneys can’t prepare their motions and hope to win without an accurate and timely transcript.
How to become a court reporter?
The question now is what do you need to do to get into this career? First, you need to understand the different career paths available to you. For example, some schools are more generalist and some have specialist programs. That’s where you might focus on a particular technology or tool such as stenography versus using a steno mask. The first method uses a computer and software program whereas a steno mask uses voice recognition.
It’s also worth noting that some schools might need you to buy your own stenotype machine. These cost a few hundred dollars. Although, the costs of a court reporting program range from around $4,000 to $12,000.
If you want to become a fully certified court reporter, you need to complete the full program after obtaining a Bachelor’s degree. You can also choose to be a stenographer but that limits you to simply transcribing and you won’t be able to assist judges and attorneys.
Once you’re licensed, you are ready to apply for remote court reporting jobs. Some professionals also decide to join a mentorship program to support them through the transition to full-time work. Naturally, some court reporting firms might already offer this as part of their package.
Either way, these are your key steps before you can apply for remote court reporting jobs:
- Training
- Licensing
- Practice
Training
It normally takes around 18 to 24 months to get a court reporter degree. You’ll learn how to take notes to record court proceedings and depositions. Most importantly, you also get to learn about different technology including computer-aided transcription software.
Licensing
To pass the licensing exam, you also need to be familiar with medical and legal terminology and have a general overview of the legal system. Naturally, you will become familiar with various transcript methodologies and how to do thorough research before any court case.
Once you’ve passed the program, you can apply to get a license. This can be per individual state or through the National Court Reporters Association.
Practice
Like everything, the more you practice, the easier it becomes. Even as you’re training, you can sit in on public court hearings and practice note-taking. Another advantage of doing this is that you become more at ease with how the courts work.
Of course, this isn’t remote but sometimes we have to work up to these things. Alternatively, see if you can listen in on news pieces or other publicly available videos for you to practice with.
Plan Your Remote Status
Remote court reporting jobs aren’t new but COVID has made them the norm. This also means that technology is potentially advancing more quickly as we demand more from it. Nevertheless, technology can’t replace a person but it can make you more effective. It also means you can apply for remote court reporting jobs.
In terms of technology, video conferencing is now common to everyone. In addition, court reporters use real-time recording, voice-to-text, and various software programs. These days, stenography machines are often portable and can connect to a laptop or computer. This means that the shorthand notes are instantly translated into proper words on the computer screen. Alternatively, some court reporters use a steno mask into which they quietly repeat what’s being said. Again, the words instantly come up on their computer screen.
Despite all this technology, mistakes happen and court reporters need to check and edit transcripts before they’re signed off. Although, real-time transcripts are often referred to during court proceedings so court reporters make sure they have a backup with their own notes.
All this technology makes remote court reporter jobs possible. It also means court reporters can deliver more quickly. Before they work remotely though, they need to work out a few logistics:
- Agree with the judge
- Borrow the machines
- Planned check-ins with your supervisor
Agree with the judge
Most courts have now adopted a remote way of working. Nevertheless, judges can make their own opinions and might decide they want an in-person hearing. Either way, it’s always good practice to agree on ways of working when going remote.
Borrow the machines
Technology costs quickly add up. So, it’s important that remote court reporting jobs provide the right support to their teams. This means making sure they lend the equipment to be used at home, just like for any working laptop.
Planned check-ins with your supervisor
It almost goes without saying that you need to keep your supervisor involved. We always need to find the right ways to let our bosses know what we’re working on and what help we need. The more open we are, the more seamless the process.
Setting up Your Home Office
Working from home can take a toll on the mind. We need to make sure we separate work and relaxation time otherwise we can quickly become overwhelmed. In fact, all experienced court reporters recommend being organized with your self-care. Court cases can be stressful and it’s important to take proper breaks. Moreover, a sedentary lifestyle isn’t good for the heart so court reporters need to make up for this with a healthy amount of exercise.
Once you’ve allocated your office space at home, you then need to make sure it’s comfortable and ergonomically safe. You could be sitting for hours at a time and the last thing you need is repetitive strain injury. Investing in an ergonomic chair is worth it as well as perhaps an adjustable desk that allows you to stand.
You might then want to consider these other key themes for your setup:
- Technology
- Dedicated space
- Engage with colleagues
Technology
Remote court reporting jobs with specialist firms will tell you what technology they tend to use. They’ll also provide you with the critical pieces. Nevertheless, you might want to consider investing in your own equipment. This could come in handy if you branch out independently one day.
Dedicated space
As mentioned, think about where you can have your home office that keeps you separate from where you relax. For example, countless studies show that it’s bad for our sleep patterns and mental health to work where we also sleep.
Engage with colleagues
It’s always good to stay connected with colleagues. Partly because they support you during difficult times but also because you stay tuned into advances in the industry. Moreover, we all need people to help us with our questions at times.
Final Thoughts on Remote Court Reporting Jobs
A career as a court reporter is both fulfilling and exciting. No two cases are the same and you have the opportunity to leverage state-of-the-art technology. Moreover, remote court reporting jobs give you flexibility with your time. Let’s not forget that you can also do your job with your toes wiggling in the sand somewhere exotic. Once you’re remote, why chain yourself when you could also be enjoying the world?
