Court Reporter Job Description Template

Woman court reporter transcribing at her computer

Accurate transcriptions are imperative for legal documentation, records, and proceedings. A court reporter produces these assets by capturing the words spoken by everyone during a court or deposition proceeding. They prepare verbatim transcripts of proceedings, which safeguards the legal process and serves as the official record or transcript.

A court reporter’s immediate voice-to-text translation allows attorneys and judges to have instant access to the transcript, while also providing a way for deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans to participate in the judicial process.

To start the recruitment process, use this court reporter job description sample as a guide or outline for creating a job listing that stands out. Mix and match elements of the template to customize it according to your requirements.

Woman court reporter transcribing at her computer

Court Reporter

[Intro Paragraph] Use the introduction to your court reporter job description to provide an overview of your organization. Communicate what differentiates your company from others in the field, and its overall mission, values and culture. The intro should also highlight any industry awards your company has received, industry leadership positions, and customer recognitions. Finally, this section of the court reporter job description is a great place to infuse your company’s personality into the language as a way of communicating company culture.

Court Reporter Job Responsibilities

  • Attend depositions, hearings, proceedings, or other events, as required.
  • Capture spoken dialogue with specialized equipment, including stenography machines, video and audio recording devices, and covered microphones.
  • Provide real-time translation in classes and other public forums for the deaf or hard-of-hearing population.
  • Report speakers’ identification, gestures, and actions.
  • Read or play back all or a portion of the proceedings upon request from the judge.
  • Interact with speakers to clarify inaudible or unclear statements during proceedings.
  • Ensure the accuracy of their notes, including the names of speakers and any technical terminology.
  • Prepare transcripts for appeals or other future legal proceedings.
  • Serve as liaison to lawyers, judges, or other local officials; providing information relating to court hearings and charges.
  • Manage the commissions and creation of certificates of proceedings.
  • Accept ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; explore opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.
  • Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks, and participating in professional organizations.
  • Documents files with court exhibits and indexes.
  • Preserves notes as required by law for legally designated period of time.

[Work Hours & Benefits]

According to the Association of Court Reporters and Captioners, more than 70 percent of the nation’s 50,000-plus court reporters work outside of the court. Approximately one-third of court reporters work in the business support field, and many others holding positions in state and local government. A small number are also freelance court reporters who work with law firms or corporations to provide services during pretrial depositions and other events on an as-needed basis.

Court reporters who are employed by state and local governments receive benefits and salaries that follow the scales laid out by those municipalities. Overall, income varies according to the area in which a person lives, certifications earned, the kinds of reporting jobs, and experience of individual reporters. Court reporters work the hours suitable to their client’s or employer’s needs, but generally follow normal business hours. They may also be required to travel to the site of a hearing or deposition to perform work.

If your company needs to recruit a court reporter and you’re unsure of what benefits to offer, it may be helpful to consult the pay scale and benefits for the government closest to your business. Be sure to include the most attractive benefits in your court reporter job description so that your company remains competitive.

Court Reporter Qualifications and Skills

Because of the speed and accuracy required to capture a verbatim record and the time-sensitive nature of legal proceedings, court reporting positions may be stressful. Candidates should be prepared to work under pressure and under tight deadlines. A list of standard qualifications and skills court reporters include:

  • Strong client relationship skills.
  • Ability to maintain client confidentiality.
  • Understanding of legal compliance requirements.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Exceptional research, listening, and presentation skills.
  • Capacity to work independently from general supervision (must be self-motivated once given direction/guidance).
  • Excellent organization skills with the ability to perform multiple tasks and obtain results working within strict time frames.

Education & Experience Requirements

There are more than 150 court reporter training programs across the country offered by proprietary schools, community colleges, and four-year universities. Court reporters can also earn various certifications to bolster their chances of finding the best employers or clients. Some states require that court reporters earn additional certifications. At a minimum, you should require that your new hire has:

  • A high school diploma
  • Successful completion of a court reporting training program from a recognized program

[Call to Action] At the end of your court reporter job description, provide a clear call to action that lists clear instructions on how to apply for the position.

Use Your Court Reporter Job Description to Attract the Best Candidates
When it’s time to hire a court reporter for your business, we can help. Attract the best candidates by posting your job description for free on Monster.