Sample Resume for a Court Reporter

Official records can be made up of written accounts of spoken words. Texts of spoken words may also be needed for letters, records, and proof in court. Court reporters make word-for-word reports of court cases, meetings, speeches, and other events. Court reporters play a critical role in legal proceedings. They are expected to create a complete and accurate legal record. Accuracy is crucial. Legal appeals can depend on the court reporter's transcript. Many court reporters organize official records. They may also search them for specific information. Court reporters provide closed-captioning and translating services for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons.

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Sample Court Reporter Resume

Richard Smith
2319, West Street,
Carlisle, MA 23741,
(811)-496 6670.

Resume Objective:
Position as Court Reporter.

Education:

Associates Degree, Criminal Justice
University of Florida, Miami, FL, 1996

Skills and Certifications:

• Certified as a Registered Professional Reporter by the National Court Reporters Association
• Ability to keep confidential information.
• Schedule flexibility.
• Track record of reliability.
• Exceptional communication, grammar and editing skills.
• Superior attention to detail and accuracy.

EXPERIENCE:
2000 - Present         Legal Secretary
Jonson & Bros.                     New York
Prepared confidential legal documentation and correspondence: mergers, acquisitions, and litigations. Supervised office support staff.

1996 - 2000             Administrative Assistant
Hawbaker & Kazminski          San Diego, CA
Prepared and produced all forms of written correspondence. Drafted annual reports and scheduled appointments.

Description for Court Reporter

JOB TITLE:
Court Reporter
JOB PURPOSE:
Court reporters typically create verbatim transcripts of speeches, conversations, legal proceedings, meetings, and other events when written accounts of spoken words are necessary for correspondence, records, or legal proof. Court reporters play a critical role not only in judicial proceedings, but also at every meeting where the spoken word must be preserved as a written transcript. They are responsible for ensuring a complete, accurate, and secure legal record. In addition to preparing and protecting the legal record, many court reporters assist judges and trial attorneys in a variety of ways, such as organizing and searching for information in the official record or making suggestions to judges and attorneys regarding courtroom administration and procedure. Increasingly, court reporters are providing closed-captioning and real-time translating services to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
REPORTS TO: Lawer, Judges.

LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY: Regardless of the method used, accuracy in court reporting is crucial because the court reporter is the only person creating an official transcript. In a judicial setting, for example, appeals often depend on the court reporter’s transcript.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Training to become a stenotypist takes 33 months, on average. It usually takes less than a year to become a voice writer. Training is offered by about 160 vocational and technical schools and colleges. The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) has approved about 70 of these. NCRA-approved programs require students to capture at least 225 words per minute.

Some States require court reporters to be certified. To be certified, court reporters must pass an exam. The NCRA confers several certifications, from entry-level to advanced, and for particular reporting systems. Advanced certifications may require work experience, additional training, or a college degree.

Court reporters must have excellent listening skills. In addition, speed and accuracy are important. Good writing skills are also needed. Voice writers must learn to listen and speak at the same time. Court reporters working in courtrooms need knowledge of legal procedure. Stenocaptioners should also be good with computers.

Duties and responsibilities:

There are several methods of court reporting. The most common method is called stenographic. Using a stenotype machine, stenotypists document all statements made in official proceedings. The machine allows them to press multiple keys at a time to record combinations of letters representing sounds, words, or phrases. These symbols are electronically recorded and then translated and displayed as text in a process called computer-aided transcription. Real-time court reporting is another method of court reporting, wherein stenotype machines used for real-time captioning are linked directly to the computer. As the reporter keys in the symbols, they instantly appear as text on the screen. This process, called Communications Access Realtime Translation (CART), is used in courts, in classrooms, at meetings, and for closed captioning for the hearing-impaired on television.

Electronic reporting refers to the use of audio equipment to record court proceedings. The court reporter monitors the process, takes notes to identify speakers, and listens to the recording to ensure clarity and quality. The equipment used may include analog tape recorders or digital equipment. Electronic reporters and transcribers often are responsible for producing a subsequent written transcript of the recorded proceeding.

Another method of court reporting is called voice writing. Using the voice-writing method, a court reporter speaks directly into a voice silencer—a hand-held mask containing a microphone. As the reporter repeats the testimony into the recorder, the mask prevents the reporter from being heard during testimony. Voice writers record everything that is said by judges, witnesses, attorneys, and other parties to a proceeding, including gestures and emotional reactions.

Regardless of the method used, accuracy in court reporting is crucial because the court reporter is the only person creating an official transcript. In a judicial setting, for example, appeals often depend on the court reporter’s transcript.

Some voice writers produce a transcript in real time, using computer speech recognition technology. Other voice writers prefer to translate their voice files after the proceeding is over, or they transcribe the files manually, without using speech recognition at all. In any event, speech recognition-enabled voice writers pursue not only court reporting careers, but also careers as closed captioners, CART reporters for hearing-impaired individuals, and Internet streaming text providers or caption providers.

Court reporters who use either the stenographic or voice-writing method are responsible for a number of duties both before and after transcribing events. First, they must create and maintain the computer dictionary that they use to translate stenographic strokes or voice files into written text. They may customize the dictionary with parts of words, entire words, or terminology specific to the proceeding, program, or event—such as a religious service—they plan to transcribe. After documenting proceedings, court reporters must edit their CAT translation for correct grammar, for accurate identification of proper names and places, and to ensure that the record or testimony is discernible. They usually prepare written transcripts, make copies, and provide information from the transcript to courts, counsels, parties, and the public on request. Court reporters also develop procedures for easy storage and retrieval of all stenographic notes and voice files in paper or digital format.

Although many court reporters record official proceedings in the courtroom, others work outside the courtroom. For example, they may take depositions for attorneys in offices and document proceedings of meetings, conventions, and other private activities. Still others capture the proceedings taking place in government agencies at all levels, from the U.S. Congress to State and local governing bodies. Court reporters who specialize in captioning live television programming for people with hearing loss are commonly known as stenocaptioners. They work for television networks or cable stations, captioning news, emergency broadcasts, sporting events, and other programming. With CART and broadcast captioning, the level of understanding gained by a person with hearing loss depends entirely on the skill of the stenocaptioner. In an emergency, such as a tornado or a hurricane, people’s safety may depend on the accuracy of information provided in the form of captioning.

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Time loads of Court Reporter

The majority of court reporters work in comfortable settings, such as offices of attorneys, courtrooms, legislatures, and conventions. An increasing number of court reporters work from home-based offices as independent contractors, or freelancers.

Many official court reporters work a standard 40-hour week. Self-employed court reporters, or freelancers, usually work flexible hours, including part time, evenings, and weekends, or they may be on call.

How to Write A Good Resume Objective

1. Avoid job titles - Resume Objective.

Job titles such as "Secretary" or "Market Manager" can involve very different activities in different organizations. The same job can often have different titles in different organizations and using such a title may very well limit your being considered for such jobs as "Office Manager" or "Marketing Assistant." It is best to use broad categories of jobs rather than specific titles, so that you can be considered for a wide variety of jobs related to the skills you have. For example, instead of "Secretary" you could say "Responsible Office Management or Clerical Position" if that is what you would really consider - and qualify for.

2. Define a "bracket of responsibility" to include the possibility of upward mobility - Resume Objective.

While you may be willing to accept a specific job drawing on your current skills keep yourself open for jobs that require higher levels of responsibility and pay. Use categories of skills and titles so that the person reviewing your resume might consider you for other openings.

In effect, you should define a 'bracket of responsibility' in your objective that includes the range of jobs that you are willing to accept. This bracket should include the lower range of jobs that you would consider as well as those requiring higher levels of responsibility, up to and including those that you think you could handle. Even if you have not handled those higher levels of responsibility in the past, many employers may consider you for them if you have the skills to support the objective.

3. Include your most important skills - Resume Objective.

What are the most important skills needed for the job you want? Consider including one or more of these as being required in the job that you seek. The implication here is that if you are looking for a job that requires 'Organizational Skills,' then you have those skills. Of course, your interview (and resume) should support those skills with specific examples.

4. Include specifics if these are important to you - Resume Objective.

If you have substantial experience in a particular industry (such as 'Computer Controlled Machine Tools') or have a narrow and specific objective that you really want (such as 'Art Therapist with the Mentally Handicapped'), then it is OK to state this. But, in so doing, realize that by narrowing your alternatives down you will often not be considered for other jobs for which you might qualify. Still, if that is what you want, it just may be worth pursuing (though I would still encourage you to have a second, more general objective just in case).

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Finalize Your Resume Objective Statement

The most important is that you can clearly state what sort of a job you want and know what kinds of skills and experiences are needed to do well in that job. Even if you decide to change your job objective later, it is very important that you decide on one now for effective marketing.

Don’t be afraid to interview for jobs that seem far outside your skill set. If you don’t force yourself to reach higher you will never be considered. Don’t expect lady luck to come knocking when you could have opened the door and walked thru. Ask about opportunities for advancement. Apply for jobs above your last experience and challenge yourself.

Having spent years working with highly paid executives it is obvious most executives are learning as they go. Few know exactly what they are doing. What they do know is how to take chances, accept risk and turn everyday events into income producing opportunities. Make yourself reach for that next level up. You too can make it to the top of your field/company. See you there.