The Student Corner

The U.S. Legal Support Student Mentorship Program

At U.S. Legal Support, we are committed to growing the next generation of professional Stenographers and Voice Writers through education, community outreach, and learning opportunities. Our mentorship program empowers students to hone their skills, build their industry knowledge, and develop strategies to navigate their professional growth and development.

As a court reporting student, you will be paired with an experienced, working court reporter who will support your journey from student to certified professional. Through a combination of one-on-one meetings and hands-on job shadowing, topics of education will include:

• Job types
• Deposition procedures
• Lifecycle of a deposition
• Remote vs. in-person reporting
• CAT software
• File management
• And much more!

To learn more and apply to join, please complete the form here:

What is Court Reporting?

According to the NCRA, court reporters are “highly trained professionals who share a unique ability to convert the spoken word into information that can be read, searched and archived.” Court reporters, also known as stenographers or Certified Shorthand Reporters (CSRs), capture and preserve a record of what transpired during legal proceedings, including depositions, hearings, arbitrations and trials. The final deliverable, a verbatim transcript of the proceeding, can be used as evidence at trial. In addition to legal proceedings, court reporters can also provide closed captioning service for live television broadcasts as well as other events.

What are the Different Types of Court Reporters?

As court reporters are highly trained professionals, there are a variety of job opportunities, including:

• Freelance: As a freelance court reporter, you will be an independent contractor working directly with attorneys, corporations and other business entities to capture the record during depositions, mediations, arbitrations, business meetings and more.
• Legislative: As a legislative court reporter, you’ll work in the United States Congress and state legislatures around the country.
• Official Court Reporter: As an official court reporter or deputy court reporter, you will work directly for the courts, within the courthouse. This includes during highly publicized criminal trials, lawsuits and other proceedings.
• Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) Provider: CART Providers provide realtime translation streaming in-person or remotely for the deaf and hard of hearing community. 
• Broadcast Captioner: A Broadcast Captioner provides a realtime translation feed for televised events such as sporting events and news broadcasts.
• Scopist: Scopists edit transcripts created by court reporters, helping to ensure an accurate record.
• Proofreader: A proofreader reviews and makes notations on the transcript of any errors such as spelling, grammar, punctuation and formatting.

How Can You Get Started with a Career as a Court Reporter?

How do you know if the court reporting profession is for you? Register for a free 6-week Basic Steno Training course through Project Steno to learn the basics of shorthand theory and become familiar with the stenograph keyboard and machine. After completing your introductory course, you can enroll in school to begin your journey to becoming a court reporter.

There are court reporter training programs located across the country at various schools, community colleges and universities. These programs typically take 2-3 years and require strict dedication to honing your skillset. See a list of programs through NCRA and Project Steno Partner Court Reporting programs.

Learn more about how to become a court reporter here.