Happy National Court Reporting Week!
It’s Court Reporting & Captioning Week! At PohlmanUSA, we are very fortunate to partner with over 500 professional court reporters, whom are experts of the industry. While court reporters play a vital role in the litigation process, many people are unaware of what a court reporter truly does.
A court reporter (often referred to as a short hand reporter) is the individual who sits in a courtroom or in a deposition and types every spoken word and detail during the proceedings. He or she then prepares an official transcript that serves as the accurate record of the events that took place during the hearing or trial. In order to be a court reporter, you have to be an excellent listener and communicator. You also need to have proficient knowledge of the English language, as well as superior spelling and grammar skills. A court reporter must be able to operate a stenographic machine and be able to type at an accelerated rate for long durations of time (at least 225 words per minute with 97 percent accuracy).
The profession of a court reporter is a quiet one; however, it is no way, shape or form a slow one. While a reporter must quietly sit in the background, patiently taking note of every word spoken, he or she also gets the opportunity to travel the country sitting in on trials dealing with a variety of legal matters. For example, our court reporters have extensive backgrounds and certifications in a variety of practice areas, including asbestos, pharmaceutical, scientific, medical device, odor nuisance, etc. Our reporters also get the opportunity to work with the most cutting-edge technology, which enables them to provide clear and accurate transcripts at an accelerated rate. In fact, our reporters maintain an average transcript delivery turnaround time of 8 to 10 business days, and this process can even be further expedited upon request.
A misconception of court reporters is that “they simply type notes of what happens during a trial.” They are also responsible for many other tasks, including but not limited to:
- Read back transcripts during courtroom proceedings and trials.
- Prepare transcripts to fit the standard format.
- Review and certify printed transcripts.
- Provide administrative support in court proceedings as needed.
- File transcripts with the county clerk in a timely manner.
- Schedule meetings for the court.
The court reporting profession is a rising one, and for good reason. To learn more about our unparalleled nationwide court reporting services, please visit http://pohlmanusa.com/our-services/court-reporting/, or call us anytime at 877-421-0099.
