Monday, September 29, 2008

The top 7 best states to be a court reporter

The United States is one of the most litigious countries in the world. Every day, millions of Americans bring legal action against their fellow citizens, and while it might not be good for them, court reporters have reaped the benefits of all these court cases.


Yes, court reporters are in demand now more than ever, but some states feature more opportunities than others. The following is a list of the best states for court reporters in terms of the demand for their services (cost of living, quality of life and other issues have not been included in this discussion).

The seven best states to be a court reporter

1. California – The biggest state in the country is also the most litigious. Court reporters in California are always in demand around the major urban centers of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Diego and the countless small towns in between.

2. Florida – With its huge elderly population, Florida is also home to countless disputes over the estates of its deceased residents. That means there will be a call for court reporters to record depositions and court hearings regarding will, trusts and other estate planning matters.

3. New York – Inside New York State you’ll find Manhattan, and in Manhattan you will find the
most vibrant legal community in the world. Court reporters in New York can take on more work in the course of a day because of the physical proximity of all the law offices in Manhattan.

4. Illinois – Not much going on in Illinois…oh, except for Chicago – home to some of the most well-regarded legal minds in the country. Chicago court reporters may be called to work on Federal cases as well as those regarding the byzantine, always colorful local political scene.

5. Texas – Texas court reporters may find themselves working on a wide variety of case types
on any given day. The Lone Star State is home to immigration cases, large corporate anti-trust suits and even narcotics-related cases stemming the activity of drug cartels operating across the border in Mexico.

6. Nevada – The fastest growing state in the U.S., Nevada is a good place for a court reporter to set up shop. Because the population growth is such a recent occurrence, there is a chance for a court reporter to establish a comprehensive “network” as a trusted source on Nevada legal proceedings (as they pertain to court reporting and the filing of legal documents).

7. Louisiana – With Hurricane Katrina came a bevy of legal proceedings. Although it has been two years since the storm, there will likely be enough litigation in the New Orleans area alone to last for many years. Since many skilled professionals left the area after the Great Storm, there is a high demand for court reporters in the area.

For the best court reporters around the country, visit www.CourtReporterNet.com. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Questions to ask if you’re considering a school for court reporters

Not all court reporting schools are created equal. Some are better equipped to help budding court reporters enter the competitive job market than others. But how do you know the difference between a top flight school for court reporters and a fly by night operation?

Here are five simple questions every prospective student should ask about their potential
training program.



1. What are the job placement rates? Ask about how many students have been placed into court reporting jobs in the past year or two.

2. How many students graduate from the program? Want to know if a program is worth taking? Simply ask about graduation rates and you’ll get your answer. If 90% or more people stuck it out until the end, you know there’s some value there.

3. Do the instructors have experience? You want to be taught by people who know the industry best, so always look for programs taught by people who are in the front lines of the court reporting business right now.

4. Do you have to bring your own steno machine? It may sound silly, but this is a perfectly legitimate question to ask up front. Steno machines are expensive, and eventually you will have to buy one if you pursue a career in court reporting, but many schools supply the device to its students for use in the coursework.

5. May I speak to some alumni? Graduates of the program are going to give you a more unbiased opinion about the school and whether or not it is worth investing in. Ask for an Alumni Guide, or access to some names and phone numbers of those who have completed the program.

For the best court reporters around the country, visit www.CourtReporterNet.com. CourtReporterNet.com is the one-stop source for all your Court Reporting, videography and Transcription needs. Powered by innovative technologies, and a professional customer support staff, CourtReporterNet.com is sure to meet your complete satisfaction. The court reporters of CourtReporterNet.com are currently available in New York, California, Florida, Chicago and other areas throughout the United States.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Court reporting and the deposition


While many people believe that the bulk of court reporting takes place inside an actual court house, the reality is that court reports spend an overwhelming proportion of their time in law offices and meeting rooms working on depositions.

Depositions are a crucial part of the legal process and are used to create a written record of the testimony of key parties involved in a case. Depositions are generally taken for one of two reasons: either because the witness is unable to appear in court or to create a written record of that witness’ testimony which will later be corroborated against their live appearance in court.

In either case, creating a completely accurate record of the deposition testimony is an essential component of the case. And that is why professional court reporting is such an important part of the process.

Court reporting during a deposition requires an uncommon mixture of speed (individuals will be talking at normal conversational rates, or higher if nervous) and accuracy (the record created at the deposition will be used by the court as a verbatim recreation of that testimony).

Unlike a court room, court reporters must become accustomed to strange surroundings very quickly. The office in which the deposition is taken may be hot, cramped or just generally uncomfortable, but the court reporter must still provide the same top-tier service to their client.

The increasingly litigious state of our country has placed greater demands on trained and certified court reporters to work these depositions in civil cases and criminal cases as well.

If you have an upcoming deposition, your business needs to work with a top court reporting service in your area. The website www.courtreporternet.com can help you locate an outstanding reporter – even on short notice.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Five great reasons to become a court reporter



This decade has been a good one for court reporters. The job is in demand and shows no signs of slowing down in the next decade. Relatively unaffected by the economy, court reporting is a great choice for the reasons that follow:

1. You will be in demand. Currently there is a significant demand for court reporters all around the country. Simply put, there’s more work than ever for a professionally trained court reporter – which makes this an excellent career choice in this difficult job market.

2. You will make good money. Employment data shows that court reporters earn an average of $65,000 - $70,000 per year.

3. This is an exciting job. Court reporters are given a chance to meet new and interesting people, and take part in legal cases that can change lives as well as our society as a whole. Few positions offer this kind of “front line” access to the fascinating comings and goings inside the legal system.

4. This is a chance to learn about the law. Anyone who is considering going to law school, or working in other areas of the legal community can benefit from being a court reporter. For those who are observant and learn by watching, the position offers a chance to excel in other areas of the business.

5. It is a job with stability. Court reporters cannot be replaced by computers. There is just too much of a human element involved. Also, it is a job that would be difficult to outsource to other countries due to the language requirements of the job.

Your business needs top court reporters. To work with a top court reporting service in your area, visit www.court-reporter.net today!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Texas court reporter on the receiving end of an unwanted kiss


It happened in the 249th District courtroom of the Fort Worth, Texas judiciary system. Longtime court reporter LuAnn Gill was transcribing a case when she became distracted by Jerry Loftin, one of the courtroom attorneys, who was making unwanted noise that was making it difficult to do her job.

According to witnesses, Gill tapped Loftin on the shoulder and asked him to quiet down. Then, Loftin alleged bent down to thank Gill for being so conscientious and planted a kiss on her cheek.
Loftin denies it, but now finds himself in all kinds of trouble with the Texas Bar Association and the Johnson Court System, which recently charged the Fort Worth attorney with assault by offensive contact, a Class C misdemeanor that carries a maximum $500 fine.

His story sounds a bit shaky, "I didn’t really kiss her," he said. "She said I patted her on the back and kissed her cheek. I reached down and blew her a kiss — well, I was next to her cheek."
Regardless of the positioning of the kiss, the case is going to put a wrinkle in the veteran attorney’s career. As for the court reporter, she is taking the matter more seriously, "There is another side of this. He just doesn’t want anyone to hear it," Gill said. "The facts will be presented in court and you can hear what I have to say then."

The case is a rare instance where the court reporter is placed into the spotlight. The goal of any good court reporter is to remain behind the scenes – and focus solely on creating an accurate, impartial record of the events in court or during any peripheral legal proceedings.

Your business needs top court reporters. To work with a top court reporting service in your area, visit www.courtreporternet.com today!

Monday, September 8, 2008

Things you might not know that a court reporters can transcribe


While everyone who has ever watched television knows that court reporters can transcribe what is being said during a courtroom trial, fewer people know about all the other functions that these valuable, skilled individuals can handle with ease.

Did you know that court reporters can transcribe the following?

· Depositions - The lion’s share of the court reporter’s time will be spent recording these testimonies of individuals who cannot appear in court or will need to have their in-court statements corroborated at a later date.

· Arbitration hearings – Two parties engaged in arbitration are going to want a complete written record of everything that was said as the two sides reached their agreement.

· Sales meetings - Companies often need to record the words used to “fire up the troops” for future sales meetings, or as an education tool for the next generation of salespeople

· Corporate events and functions –Annual stockholder meetings and company-wide get-togethers both can benefit from having a court reporter present.

· Closed-captioning – One of the fastest growing areas for court reporters. Television shows, live productions and other media all need fast transcribers to bring the message to the hearing-impaired as soon as it is spoken.

· Webinars – A court reporter in Omaha, Nebraska can transcribe a meeting in Los Angeles and New York if that corporate gathering is held online. Just like traditional meetings, the reporter records everything that is being said, and provides a comprehensive written documentation of the proceedings, via email, to all appropriate parties.

· Public gatherings – A court reporter can be used to transcribe anything from town hall meetings to church services.

With so many valuable uses for court reporters, your business needs to work with a top court reporting service in your area. Services like the ones found at www.courtreporternet.com can help you locate an outstanding reporter – even on short notice.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Court reporters more in demand than ever

Court reporters play a crucial role in the legal system. They are the official record bearers of all court proceedings, depositions, hearing and other official meetings. And with a country that is more litigious than ever before, one would have to believe that more and more individuals are entering the court reporting field.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Recently, the National Court Reporting Association reported that their ranks had thinned in recent years. For evidence, they pointed to several key statistics:

· There are now only 130 schools across the United States that offer classes in court reporting – down significantly from the late 20th century

· The number of court reporters registered with the NCRA is down to 23,000 – the lowest levels in two decades.

· Perception of the job is constantly referred to as “old fashioned” and “out of date” by those surveyed.

What is odd about these numbers is that the average court reporter earns almost $70,000 dollars per year and enjoys a tremendous amount of flexibility in their hours. They also work with the latest technologies and gain entrĂ©e in the legal profession that even most law students can’t claim to have.

For those wondering about the longevity of this career choice, they need look no further than the case of Margaret Wasmund, an award-winning court reporter who has built a stable, rewarding career in the business. Wasmund echoed the call of many in the legal profession when she said, “we do need more reporters and I think there are fewer than there once was. I just don't know where they are!”

With outstanding court reports in greater demand, it is more important ever to work with a top court reporting service. Services like the ones found at courtreporternet.com can help you locate an outstanding reporter – even on short notice.

 
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