What Are the Responsibilities of a Court Reporter?
Court reporters fill a vital role in the Georgia legal system, capturing spoken words on paper verbatim and digitally in real time during court sessions. They also prepare and format transcripts for civil cases before the Georgia Court of Appeals. While the legal profession today is a paperless enterprise, lawyers of all kinds still require court reporters to dictate case documents before they are formatted and filed in electronic form with the court.
To perform their job correctly and efficiently, a court reporter must be technically competent and familiar with legal language, including court terminology and procedures. Their work requires outstanding listening and writing skills , attention to detail, and the ability to think and act independently and in a manner that is true to the meaning of the speakers in the courtroom.
Court reporting professionals must have advanced legal vocabulary and be proficient in both the English language and any second language relevant to their area. Courteous and capable at all times, they display a professional and confident demeanor when dealing with lawyers, judges, and witnesses, remaining neutral and unbiased in their communications. They also adhere to strict confidentiality rules and must pass a test to obtain certification.
Educational Qualifications for Court Reporters in Georgia
Many people are unaware that court reporters are required by law to possess a valid license issued by the Georgia Board of Court Reporting in order to work as an official court reporter or a pro tempore court reporter. The Georgia Board of Court Reporting is charged with examining and licensing these reporters operating within the State of Georgia.
Aspiring court reporters should be aware that obtaining a license from the Board requires passing a written skills examination and successfully completing the process necessary to obtain a certificate of fitness. In order to qualify for the written and skills examinations, an individual must possess either an associate’s degree in court reporting or be a licensed reporter of another state.
If an individual is not already a licensed reporter of another state (e.g., a reporter licensed in North Carolina or Florida), the next step is to acquire either an associate’s degree in court reporting or complete a court reporting program that is approved by the Board. Online programs can be used to meet this requirement.
In addition to completion of an approved program and obtaining a passing score on the written skills examination, applicants for a license to practice as a Court Reporter must also pass the pro se exam. This exam is designed to test the applicant’s knowledge of the Georgia Rules of Evidence and the Georgia Rules of Civil Procedure and the Code of Judicial Conduct.
Getting Certified and Licensed in Georgia
The process of becoming a Court Reporter in Georgia requires candidates to meet certification and licensed requirements which are unique for the state. Candidates for the Certified Court Reporter (CCR) certification must be licensed to practice in the state and certified with the Supreme Court of Georgia. This designation is held by the Board of Court Reporting within the Georgia Administrative Office of the Courts. In 2017 a new examination was created to replace the previous Professional Reporters Certification exam; this test is referred to as the Georgia Certified Court Reporter (GCCR) exam. The exam is administered by Thomson Reuters, the global legal solution provider that partners with other state professional boards and governs more than 9 million tests and certifications annually.
Once a candidate has passed the initial multiple-choice portion of the test, they will then take the performance test which consists of three 5-minute dictations on a digital steno recording device in the correction-free mode at a rate of 180 words per minute. The three dictations are transcribed and submitted to the Board of Court Reporting within 30 days of taking the dictation. If the test is failed, the candidate must wait a full year to retake the test.
The proctored examinations are administered monthly in Atlanta, Macon and Savannah. The Georgia Board of Court Reporting currently charges $150 for the initial application fee and $200 to sit for the certification exam. The final transcript fee upon passing the practical portion is $200 to apply for certification.
Individuals who are already licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction can apply for a waiver to take the Georgia certification exam; however, to do this they must have at least 5 years of experience. Once the paperwork has been submitted to the Georgia Board of Court Reporting, they will decide whether or not to allow the transfer of certification. Even if granted a waiver, individuals will still need to take the written portion of the test.
Skills and Traits for a Successful Career
Ideally, a court reporter knows shorthand before entering the field. Shorthand is an advanced form of transcription. Where most typing classes teach students to type faster than 120 words a minute, shorthand students learn to type at speeds of 225 words a minute or faster. A court reporter must be fast, accurate and precise in their work. After all, they are responsible to the court for the accuracy of the record. They can not choose what to omit in the transcript. A court reporter must work to remember every word, cough and laugh in the courtroom. They must be able to recall the entire timeline of events. If they were mistaken, it is up to them to correct the record and be sure no one else is confused by it.
Why does being fast and accurate matter? When people are speaking in real time they tend to speak faster than they do while typing. If a court reporter did not know shorthand, they would have to type out every single word. In addition to hurting the reporter’s productivity, this also makes the reading of the transcript slower. A court reporter with a slow transcript in a busy court schedule decreases the ability for a judge to write their opinion. Think of how slow you can read. Now think about reading a hearing transcript that is 200 pages long. It takes several hours to read a transcript of that length. The slower the reader, the longer it takes they can form their decision. This is why judges always express their frustration with the slow reporters. Without them , judges would have to do their own transcription of a hearing. If that is the case, court reporters would be out of a job.
Being so fast and accurate can often lead to burnout due to the fact that a court reporter’s eyes rarely leave their screen. In order to continue working in court rooms they must be fairly personable and attentive. They must also be attentive to details regarding each case. Sometimes a judge will ask about a particular motion they heard a few months ago. If the court reporter did not make notes they probably will not be able to recall the previous case or detail which judge, time, or even date it happened. This often leads to confusion and frustration. Not only can it hurt their personal reputation (if the judge remembers), but it can also hold up the court schedule if the court reporter cannot recall a detail.
A court reporter must possess a basic knowledge of law and procedure. For example, what is a defendant? What is an indictment? What happens after a verdict? What is a closing argument? Whether or not a court reporter possesses a paralegal background, it assists them to pick up on legal jargon and terms. A good court reporter will be ready to learn new things. They will always listen to other attorneys and judges to strengthen their knowledge of law. Finally, a court reporter must possess the ability to simplify legal terms for the average citizen. Most court reporters have a high school diploma or GED and have undergone additional training that gives them the skills they need to be successful.
Job Demand and Career Progression
The career options for Georgia court reporters are rapidly expanding due to evolving technologies and an increasing demand for multimedia and traditional reporting services. Within the court milieu, court reporters processing court video footage and/or traditional stenography reporting to produce transcripts continue to be in high demand. However, roles no longer reserved only for authorized court reporters are emerging, creating new opportunities for career advancement.
Court reporters/freelancers in Georgia can find job opportunities from numerous sources. State and federal courthouses in Georgia employ many court reporters. Private firms with court reporter in Georgia perform "off-site" reporting for depositions, federal and state procedures, calendar calls, hearings, arbitrations, board meetings, etc. For these "off-site" jobs, it is important to have a full range of portable instruments, as well as digital sound system equipment. The need for court reporters in the private sector is ever expanding. Companies, agencies, and even government branches are seeking freelance/contractual court reporters to attain details of depositions, seminars, meetings, conferences, and other events. Stenographers, CART, and other transcriptionists provide great service and editing. Stenographers are highly sought after in the job market.
Court reporters can work where they feel they fit their skill set best. Georgia offers opportunities in districts and counties across the state from county courts, juvenile courts, city courts, and superior courts to those reporting for investigational purposes at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Independent contractors and freelance court reporters can specialize, in House& Senate press, certified reporting, court transcription, and more. In the private sector, court reporters are utilized as contract reporters or independent contractors (freelancers). With the advent of escrowing of digital exhibit databases, reporters must have a thorough knowledge of the software being used by the client, as well as the digital exhibits being taken. Also, stenographers must market and network themselves so they can gain and maintain clients in a competitive market. Within the courtroom setting, reporters are used for interpreters, captioning, brief service, research assistance, and more.
Court reporters also report for proceedings or hearings held in Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia for courts utilizing the Continental Free Trade Association (CFTA) treaty. Due to the growth and expansion of international reporting, court reporters are in high demand with a continual call from around the world for qualified reporters who have experience in captioning and interpreting, as well as graduate degrees. Experienced court reporters are also situated in affiliate firms as supervisors and editors in the field. These experiences are sought since they offer valuable business learning exposure and business development experiences. Courts, legislative bodies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, corporations, medical centers, hospitals, physicians, and schools with both public and private entities are the professional audiences for reporters. Sophisticated professional reporters are utilized by corporate counsel, attorneys, and offices of general counsel to testify as expert witnesses on the accuracy of litigation transcripts that are often essential to winning cases.
Continuing Education and Career Advancement
Continuing education is a vital component of career advancement for Georgia court reporters. The field is one of continuous technological evolution, pushing you to adapt and implement new tools. Luckily, there are numerous resources for workshops on certification, skills development and cross-training. In Atlanta and the surrounding areas, organizations such as the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) regularly host events with topics relevant to court reporters. These opportunities are a great way to network with others in the profession, too, who may have further insight into the different local organizations that offer workshops on areas of interest – like live-streamed deposits, which can be extremely helpful for those with an eye to becoming a deposition reporter.
It’s not just your technical skills that need attention, though . As a Georgia court reporter, you’re required to earn 10 hours of continuing education every two years. The Georgia Government Reporting Agency (GGRA) houses a list of vendors who have been approved to provide these credits. From there, you can find remote opportunities easily online, such as CGA’s "Fingers vs. Pens" seminar, which is scheduled for April 2019.
Membership in a professional organization is also a way to continue your education while networking with other court reporters. You’ll gain access to industry insights and job boards, and for that reason, many professionals find that these organizations are a helpful resource. The Georgia Court Reporters Association offers two webinar series, Handbook for Beginners and Professional Development, accessible to its members. NCRA has additional benefits ranging from mentorship with experienced reporters to occasional complimentary assitant memberships for non-steno professionals.