You Can Get a Job in the Judicial System

Have you ever had a desire to work in the judicial system? Does working with attorneys and judges sound like an exciting job? Does being part of a big, highly publicized legal battle like the Anna Nicole Smith trial or the Scooter Libby one get you excited? Maybe you'll be on Court TV or CNN when one of those high profile cases is aired. The good news is you don't need a law degree, a black robe, or a gavel. You do need some training and some equipment, however. You can become a vital part of the justice system of the United States by becoming a court reporter. These are the people who record every word that is said at a legal proceeding.

Freelance court reporting allows you the freedom to run your business from your home. You don't need to be an employee of a court system to earn a living. You'll be rubbing shoulders with judges and attorneys as you perform your service. On the average, court reporters can make about $60,000 annually. If you work in a larger metropolitan area, the income will be higher. There will be some initial costs, but the income will make up for the modest investment.

As you can imagine, specific training is needed to be a court reporter. If you check your local colleges, they may offer two or three year programs. There are also numerous home schooling programs available on-line. A basic search on the web will reveal lots of helpful sites. So do a search for court reporting and research the helpful sites. You will also need to check with your state and local government to see what testing and certification you need after your training.

Some special equipment is needed like an electronic stenographic writer, and a computer with special software. A good quality laser printer is also a must. The good news is all of this equipment, both new and used, is available on-line at discount prices. Your investment will be reduced if you go the on-line route.

Once you have been trained and passed the various certification requirements of your state and local government, you can begin moving up the ranks of court reporting. Simple depositions may be your first jobs. As you improve your skill, your reputation will lead to higher paying jobs with big time lawyers and judges.

The judicial system likes court reporters that are accurate and punctual. Once you build a reputation of efficiency and accuracy, you'll soon have more business than you can handle. Many freelance reporters hire out certain parts of the job to professional scopists. A scopist is someone who translates the reporter's rough translation into a final draft. This frees up the recorder to pursue other recording jobs. You may wish to specialize as a scopist.

The National Court Reporter Association, www.ncraonline.org, is one of the best resourced for all the details. They will supply you with all the information, education contacts, certification requirements, and technology needs necessary for this field.

The successful recorders are detail-oriented, trustworthy, and skillful. If this describes your personality and you like the idea of being on the inside of legal battles, you may want to pursue this.