3 Reasons You Should Become a Court Reporter

Whenever court proceedings occur, there must always be someone there to create a transcription of what individuals in the courtroom say. This person, the court reporter, plays an integral role in the legal process, creating a record that others can reference whenever necessary. If you’re interested in the profession, being aware of several reasons to become a court reporter can help inform your career decisions.

An Always In-Demand Career

Court proceedings happen every day, and with each case, there must be a court reporter who transcribes everything the judge, defendant, plaintiff, and lawyers say. Job security comes from the fact that legal disputes are unavoidable in day-to-day life.

No matter the current state of the economy, there will always be a need for court reporters inside the courtroom as well as freelance court reporters to report pretrial discovery such as depositions.

Earning Potential

Looking at the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of May 2023, court reporters earn, on average, just over $60,000 a year in the United States. To reference the BLS once again, the average salary in the United States as a whole in 2023 was about $59,000 per year.

Of course, how much a court reporter earns per year depends on their location, level of skill, tenure, and credentials, but the potential to earn more than the national average is present. Court Reporting and Captioning at Home graduates often earn $100,000 and more!

Education Requirements

Earning certification to become a court reporter does not require a degree from a college or university. The journey to reporting is relatively straightforward.

Approximately half of the States in the United States require certification while the other half does not. Most States accept the national Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) certification which can be obtained by training through any school or program, including the Court Reporting and Captioning at Home online training program where you may train at hours that are convenient for you from the comfort of your home.

Don’t Wait To Pursue Your Career

Court reporting can be an engaging profession that allows you to earn a lucrative income while allowing you to choose to work as a freelance court reporter who establishes his own business, or working as a freelance court reporter or employee working for a court reporting firm or agency, or working as a judicial or official court reporter who works in the courtroom setting . As a freelance court reporter you have more control over your schedule to work as much or as little as you like. As an official reporter, you have scheduled hours you must work in the courthouse, but you have the security of a set amount of income each month as well as benefits provided by the county, state, or federal government. There are many reasons you might choose to become a court reporter and being informed regarding your options will help you make the best career choice. Research the profession further and see what else court reporting has to offer you.