Professional Florida Court Reporters

The Florida court reporting professional is qualified in many areas, and work experience can be gained through networking. While career demands include working long hours, standing for long periods of

time, and long-distance travel, annual salary and benefits are relatively high. Some skills presented by the Florida court reporter include the ability to listen attentively, type at high speeds for long periods of time, and demonstrate professionalism among peers. Studies suggest that a nationwide shortage for court reporters exists, resulting in an estimated $1 billion annual cost. Qualified court reporters with experience are necessary for the continuation of legal processes in Florida.

Qualified Florida Court Reporters

Court reporters are commissioned by the State of Florida to swear in deponents and mark exhibits, and their transcripts are used as evidence in court. Certifications recognized in the state of Florida include National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) and Florida Court Reporter Association (FCRA), and an adequate length for training is a minimum of two years. Court reporters are responsible for transcribing depositions, pre-trial hearings, trials, and post-trial hearings such as sentencing hearings. They must accurately capture every word said during these proceedings, and this can be done with ease when typing 225+ words per minute. The court reporter will use a stenograph machine to record every word said during the proceedings. The stenograph machine is a special computer-like device that uses a keyboard, a foot pedal, and a small screen to display everything transcribed during the proceeding.

Experienced Court Reporting Professionals in Florida

Florida court reporting agencies provide the work experience needed for court reporters to succeed in their state. Local court reporters may offer additional peer-to-peer training as well as local networking opportunities in Jacksonville; Tallahassee; Pensacola; Orlando; Tampa; and Miami. Most court reporters are members of one or more professional associations, such as the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA), the National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA) or the Florida Court Reporters Association (FCRA). These organizations offer continuing education opportunities, networking and support.

Most court reporters in Florida start their careers as legal secretaries or paralegals. The majority of court reporters work for law firms, attorneys, or government agencies. Some court reporters work in private business settings such as hospitals or insurance companies, and others work for themselves by providing contract services to attorneys or other businesses.

A court reporter’s job is demanding because they are required to work long hours during trials, depositions and hearings.

They must be present at these events when scheduled, so they must have freedom in their schedule that can be difficult for people with families.

Florida court reporters are also responsible for maintaining professional relationships with attorneys, judges and laypeople that may appear in court. This can be demanding depending on the type of case being tried.

Court Reporter Demand

Florida Court Reporting Requirements

Court reporters earn a great annual salary in Florida plus, benefits such as vacation time and health insurance. The exact salary depends on the number of years he or she has been practicing and whether he or she works freelance or in-house at a law firm or corporation. Some court reporters choose to freelance full-time for multiple clients while others choose to work in one place full-time, sometimes strictly in courtrooms. Court reporting can actually take place from home using a laptop computer and an internet connection with a reliable telephone line and good internet speed. Court reporting is also one of the few professions that can be done from anywhere in the world with an internet connection because there are no geographical restrictions on where cases can be filed.

Court reporters must be able to stand for long periods of time without becoming fatigued as well as sit for long periods of time at a desk or table without becoming sore or stiff. They are required to have excellent vision, especially peripheral vision, so they can watch the proceedings while still being able to take accurate notes. Excellent listening skills are also needed in order to accurately transcribe the court proceedings. The profession is physically demanding and can be stressful, and, can expose workers to difficult situations. Court reporters must have excellent concentration, great hearing, and the ability to write at a fast pace for long periods of time. They must have good hand-eye coordination and be able to type accurately for long periods of time without making errors. Court reporters should also have good writing skills and the ability to take notes during trials or depositions.

Demand for Court Reporting Professionals

Demands of the job also vary by location throughout the state of Florida. Some court reporters may also in fact have to travel to other states or countries in order to provide their services. This can also involve dealing with language barriers and a different legal system. Court reporting is a difficult job that requires patience, attention to detail, and excellent spelling and grammar skills. Because court reporters are required to travel to distant countries at times, high-achieving court reporters are proficient in multiple languages and familiar with the laws of different countries. An greater interest for entering the field must be generated for the continuation of legal processes in Florida.

court reporter shortage

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demand for court reporters will increase by 22% over the next decade. This is faster than average growth, but it is still not as fast as some other professions, such as Personal Care Aides (26%). It is expected that the number of jobs will decline because many court reporters are reaching retirement age and leaving their profession. The impact of this court reporter shortage in Florida has been significant. The American Bar Association estimates that the lack of qualified court reporters has resulted in an estimated $1 billion cost to the legal system. Increase in legal activity and technological advances that require more skilled workers mandate the necessity for qualified court reporters entering the field.

IN SUMMARY

The Florida Department of State will commission qualified individuals for the professional court reporting role. NCRA, NVRA, and FCRA are three state and national level certifications that ensure court reporter qualifications in Florida. Using a stenograph machine, or stenographic mask, the court reporter can transcribe the poken word at speeds of 225+ words per minute. Networking opportunities for gaining experience as a court reporter are present in most Florida cities. Demands of the job include long hours, long distance travel, and extreme focus during legal depositions. Some excellent skills which court reporters possess are the ability to listen, write fast for long periods of time, and proficient grammatical abilities. A shortage in court reporting professionals in Florida who are qualified and experienced has impacted legal processes significantly; nationwide, a resulting in $1 billion cost to the system has been estimated.