Court Reporting
Court Reporting Degrees
Court reporters are responsible for providing accurate and secure legal records. They must have excellent grammar, spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, transcription, and organization skills. A court reporting degree will help students develop these important skills. Proper court reporting training will also prepare individuals to work and advance not only in the field of court reporting, but in a variety of other positions within the legal world.
Types of Court Reporting Degree Programs
An associate’s degree in court reporting is a two year program that will expose students to new technology and train them to meet the minimum transcription speeds. An associate’s degree in court reporting is a great way to open doors to employment opportunities. The jobs available to degree holders at this level are often entry level transcriber positions, but as experience increases promotions are usually available.
A bachelor’s degree in court reporting is a good choice for those who want to be eligible for the best job opportunities in this field of work. This four year course of study provides students with a well rounded education in addition to the skills required for proper court transcription. Course work will include study of legal terminology, criminal law, and laws of evidence. Job opportunities for bachelor’s degree holders include closed caption reporter, corporate transcriber, and congressional reporter among others.
Job Outlook for Court Reporters
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 25% growth in the field of court reporting over the next few years. This growth could be a result of the increased need for closed caption transcription for court television, as well as an increase in the overall number of court cases.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009 Edition
