The Court Reporter Transcription Process

Watch any crime drama and chances are you’ll see the same main characters in the courtroom; judge, jury, defendant, plaintiff, lawyers, witnesses and even the bailiff. One character you won’t always see is the court reporter.

The court reporter may seem like an afterthought in the courtroom, but they are actually an essential component of the legal system. The court reporter is responsible for recording transcripts of conversations and legal proceedings in the courtroom. These transcripts are important to all the other players in the room. So, how does a court reporter perform his or her important task? As a provider of transcription service in Phoenix, AZ, we wanted to give you a closer look at what our team does and how we do it. Read on to learn more!

Training

As with any expert, a court reporter’s knowledge and skills are built on a foundation of quality training and education. Not just anyone is able to be a court reporter. Court reporters are required to fulfill the general requirements and standards at a certified court reporting school that has been accredited by the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA). These programs include courses on medical and legal terminology, vocabulary, court reporting, proofreading, keyboarding, machine shorthand, dictation and even ethics. On average, it takes about three years to complete all the necessary training and education to become a court reporter.

Equipment

Knowledge is not the only thing a court reporter needs to do their job—they also need to be familiar with certain technical devices and equipment. The way a court reporter transcribes information in the courtroom today is very different from the methods used by a court reporter 20 or 30 years ago.

A common tool used by court reporters is a stenotype machine. This machine allows the court reporter to type words, sentences and phrases faster than with a traditional QWERTY keyboard. The stenotype has 22 black, unmarked keys, which represent some of the alphabet, and combinations of keys must be used for the letters not included. Instead of typing out words, a stenotype machine creates phonetic code that relates to sound. The stenotype can be connected to a laptop, which allows the court reporter to create real-time captions of the proceedings and digitally upload and share transcripts.

Professionalism

One thing that we require from our staff that cannot be taught in a classroom is professionalism. As a trusted transcription service in Phoenix, AZ, we hold our court reporters to the highest standards when it comes to the quality of their work, their overall work ethic and the manner in which they interact with our clients.

If you are in need of a court reporter for your legal proceedings, be sure to call Bartelt | Nix Reporting, LLC first. Court reporters are essential to ensuring smooth courtroom proceedings. If you want a court reporter that is well trained, accurate and a consummate professional, you should be working with us. To learn more about our services and areas of expertise, contact us today!

Categorised in: Legal Transcription Service

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