Earn a Court Reporting Degree in as little as 2 years from CollegeDegreesToday.com

What is a Court Reporting Degree?

Attorney:     ""What gear were you in at the moment of the impact from the car crash?""
Defendant:   ""Gucci sweats and Reeboks.""
Attorney:     ""What is your date of birth?""
Defendant:   ""July fifteen.""
Attorney:     ""What year?""
Defendant:   ""Every year.""

Courtesy of the book Disorder in the Court, the above conversations are real, documented conversations that were recorded by Court Reporters.  If you relish in monotony and boring conversation, you may not be the right candidate for a Court Reporting Degree.  But, if your ears just perked up at the thought of being paid to eavesdrop, earning your Court Reporting Degree will give you potential access to record everything that happens in the courtroom, and during testimonies or judicial orders. 

Court Reporting is an invaluable asset to trials because Court Reporters provide written evidence for the decisions made by judge and jury, along with being responsible for all the documentation involved and handled during a trial.  If you're interested in the potential of a highly-paid, exciting career as a Court Reporter, keep reading to learn how you can earn a Court Reporting Degree.

Not only can earning a Court Reporting Degree save you time and money on schooling, but it's also a secure position because there will always be a need for Court Reporters in trials.  The outlook for Court Reporter positions is expected to increase by 18% through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which means Court Reporters will have excellent job opportunities.  These opportunities for Court Reporters are also a result of a growing need to broadcast TV with closed captioning for the deaf along with real-time broadcast capturing. The best opportunities will go to the certified Court Reporters who specialize in those areas.

Court Reporter's salaries vary depending on the region in which they work,  the type of job, their level of certification, and years of experience. Below are statistics recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2008:

• Median Salary of Court Reporters....$49,710
• Entry-Level Court Reporters............$25,360
• Government Court Reporters...........$51,150

Higher salaries are awarded to Court Reporters who are willing to relocate to rural areas or areas where Court Reporters are in high demand. To learn more about earning your Court Reporting Degree, apply for more information below!

 

How can I get a Court Reporting Degree?

While earning a Court Reporting Degree, students gain a broad base of information regarding specific aspects of the justice system, business, and current events.  Students enrolled in a Court Reporting Degree program are trained to listen accurately, be articulate in their speech, and they are trained to listen and speak simultaneously.  While only 33 hours of class are required to become certified as a real-time stenographer Court Reporter, it takes about 1 year to become a Novice Writer Court Reporter.  Most Court Reporters earn their Associate's Degree in real-time voice writing after 2 years of training.  By attending classes at a business school or accredited college, Court Reporting Degree students become certified as a stenotype Court Reporter within 2 to 4 years.

To be successful as a Court Reporter, professionals must have flawless grammar and punctuation, possess a large vocabulary, and Court Reporters are responsible for staying up-to-date on legal terms, legal procedures, and current events in the trials they cover.  Court Reporting Degree professionals must work well under pressure because the pressure placed on speed and accuracy can be stressful during trials.  The typical work environment for Court Reporters entail comfortable settings, such as Attorney's offices, courtrooms, offices of Legislatures, or conventions.  Some Court Reporting Degree graduates build home-based offices, or work as independent contractors or freelancers.  Regardless of the road you take after earning your Court Reporting Degree, most Court Reporters work 40 hours a week in addition to the hours they spend preparing transcripts.  Don't shy away from those hours, yet—salaried Court Reporters also charge a per page fee for transcripts.