Are you interested in working in the legal field? Have you considered becoming a court reporter? This is a growing field, and the demand for people with this skill set is expected to increase 10% up through 2022.
In order to become a certified court reporter you will need to enroll in an approved program. The education and certification process combined usually takes 33.3 months to complete. It’s important to note that over 70% of court reporters working in the United States actually work outside the court recording depositions and other important sessions.
In addition to exploring a career as a court reporter, you may also have considered becoming a certified legal video specialist. In addition to recording depositions out of court, legal videographers may record court proceedings and provide other production and post-production services. These might include making copies for court distribution and legal team members.
O*Net OnLine indicates that projected growth for film makers and editors is approximately 14% or more up through 2024. They also have a “Bright Outlook” comment associated with this position.
According to the National Court Reporters Association, a legal videographer would work in conjunction with a court reporter. This partner system is in place so that the official court transcription and the video recording accurately reflect the proceedings.
Whether you want to become a court reporter or videographer, it’s important to note that you will need to hone your skills in order to obtain a certification. Given the nature of the legal field, and the importance of the information that is being recorded, accuracy is essential. While you’re in school to become a court reporter, for example, you will probably need to spend a minimum of 15 hours practicing and honing these skills.
To find out more information about this field, including education and certification requirements, you can contact the National Court Reporters Association, the National Verbatim Reporters Association, or the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers.
When you are interested in working within the legal field, there are a variety of options from which to choose. In addition to becoming a court reporter or legal videographer, you may also be interested in other career paths such as legal assistant, paralegal, legal secretary or lawyer.
