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Court reporter
Court reporters attend court to make a verbatim record of the hearings. They record witnesses’ evidence, legal submissions, the judge’s summing up, the verdict and any later sentencing hearings.
Also known as:
- Shorthand reporter
- Stenographer
- Verbatim reporter
Work activities
Court reporters listen carefully to the court proceedings. They record them using machine shorthand (or stenotyping). Machine shorthand is a system that uses special keyboards. These enable reporters to input whole words and phrases at the touch of a button. The court reporter can press any number of keys in combination with only one key stroke, rather than using a separate key stroke for each letter. Machine shorthand is therefore much quicker than using a traditional keyboard. Sometimes the reporter must record everything that is said, for example, when there is a guilty plea in a Crown Court. In other situations, the reporter may only record something when they are asked to take a note, for example, when a Crown Court hears an appeal from a Magistrates’ Court. (This information applies to England and Wales only. In Scotland court reporters provide an accurate transcript of proceedings in the Sheriff Court, the High Court and the Court of Session.)
It is the court reporter’s responsibility to produce a clear and accurate transcript. They may have to edit their text to make sure it is grammatically correct and easy to understand. Court reporters may also have to check facts such as names and quotations from law reports, text books, statutes and documents. By linking a machine to a television screen, court reporters can provide a real-time transcription service. The reporter captures the proceedings as normal and the words are translated by the computer into English text and appear on screen as the reporter writes them. There are two main reasons for reporting what happens in court. Firstly, in long cases, lawyers need to see a transcript of the day’s proceedings to remind them of what has taken place and help them prepare for the next stage of the case. Secondly, when a case goes to an appeal court, a record of the original case is used by legal professionals to help them prepare and to see how decisions were reached at the time of the original trial.
Personal qualities and skills
To do this job well, you’ll need:
- Excellent listening skills.
- The ability to work well under pressure.
- To be able to use machine shorthand with speed and accuracy.
- Excellent written English language skills to produce edited, grammatically correct transcripts.
- A good understanding of legal terms and jargon.
- The ability to pay close attention to detail.
- Good powers of concentration.
You need a shorthand speed of 160 words per minute in order to sit the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters Associateship examination. You must have a confident nature, because occasionally a judge will ask a reporter to read aloud a part of the text to the court. You will also need to be of smart appearance.
Pay and opportunities
Earnings for court reporters vary depending on skill level and experience. Job site Indeed reports that the national average salary for a court reporter is £27,810.
While most courts sit between 10:30am and 4:30pm, hours can be irregular, so court reporters must be flexible in their hours of work. Part-time work may also be available.
Court reporters work in the High Courts, the Central Criminal Court, the Courts of Appeal and the Crown Courts. They could also work outside the legal profession in an area such as verbatim reporting. Opportunities for court reporters occur in courts in towns and cities throughout the UK.
Most court reporters work as self-employed, freelance reporters who find work with firms of shorthand reporters. These firms are appointed by The Ministry of Justice in England and Wales to record for the court system.
Where are vacancies advertised?
Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job service.
Entry routes and training
To enter this career, you’ll need to have stenography (machine shorthand) skills. This usually means you’ll have to pay for a private course, either at a college or via distance learning. The British Institute of Verbatim Reporters (BIVR) has a list of colleges and individuals that provide courses.
Training courses cover basic theory and help students to reach a trainee reporting speed of 160 words per minute. Once in employment, trainees work alongside experienced court reporters, so they can improve their technique. Once they can manage 160 words per minute, students may take the BIVR’s Associateship examination (you must present the Institute with a recognised certificate as evidence that you can achieve 160 words per minute). Eventually, you will need a reporting speed of about 180 words a minute. General shorthand training is available through colleges or private training organisations.
Some court reporters set up their own agencies. Most reporters are self-employed.
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: Court reporters who work in the Royal Courts of Justice or the Central Criminal Court are exceptions to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.
Qualifications
Employers expect applicants to be trained in the use of stenotyping machines and have reached a minimum shorthand speed of at least 160 words per minute initially. Entry requirements for training courses vary, but you will usually need four or five GCSEs at grades 9-4, including English.
Some applicants have A-levels, a degree or other higher education qualifications.
Adult opportunities
Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.
Entrants with relevant skills and experience, for example, gained as a shorthand secretary or legal secretary, have an advantage. Most court reporters work as self-employed, freelance reporters who find work with firms of shorthand reporters.
Courses in machine shorthand are available full- and part-time, and by distance learning from Sorene (court reporting and training services).
