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The
free-lance court reporter, who recently won a Golden Notes award
from the Michigan Association of Professional Court Reporters,
also teaches at the Elsa Cooper Institute of Court Reporting in
Southfield.
"Ours is not a traditional classroom," said Terrion
Maxwell, director of the institute. "The only tool the
student uses is the stenography machine. Subjects include Q&A,
literary and jury instruction topics."
Students typically buy their own machines, which run $850 to $950.
Free-lance court reporters also own their equipment: stenotype
machine, a laptop computer and a printer, suggested Murphy. A
reference library also is helpful.
Classroom studies are heavy on recording as fast and accurately as
possible. Students at Else Cooper Institute are tested weekly and
must score 95 percent in order to move on, Maxwell said.
Day students usually complete their studies in from two to 3 1/2
years; evening students may require an additional year, Maxwell
said. Some people are just better at it than others and will
finish earlier.
"When I started in reporting, we would read from our
shorthand into a Dictaphone and then transcribe that onto
paper," Murphy said. "With today's technology, we have
the ability to produce a transcript immediately."
Murphy said state-certified court reporters find employment in one
of two arenas. They may become official reporters employed by a
court system or municipality, for example, which pays them a
salary. Or they can work as independent contractors. These
reporters usually are affiliated with an agency which provides
their assignments. These reporters are paid by the page.
"It's challenging, thrilling work and something you can do
(the transcribing) at home," Murphy said. "You are
constantly learning new terms and new things."
Murphy said that although the reporter concentrates on recording
every syllable, there still is an opportunity to comprehend the
proceedings.
Subjects include just about everything. The health care industry
appears to be getting more than its fair share of legal attention.
Sue McGovern, president and owner of Qualified Court Reporters in
Novi, takes a lot of medical deposition assignments. The agency,
with four full-time and some part-time court reporters on its
roster, tends to do work for firms with very experienced
attorneys.
"I wouldn't hire someone right out of (court reporting)
school," McGovern said. "We don't have any easier
assignments."
Larger firms may be in a better position to hire recent graduates
who could improve their skills on less complex cases and get the
benefit of mentoring by more senior reporters.
McGovern said her firm is distinguished by the fact that it pays
reporters -- who all are independent contractors -- upfront,
typically within two weeks of completing the work. It's not
unusual, she said, for reporters to have to wait months while
clients pay law firms which then pay agencies handling reporters.
Network Reporting in Cadillac offers attorneys statewide reporting
services. The company uses certified stenographer reporters and it
has the capacity to train individuals in electronic recording
skills.
"You can earn as you learn," said Karen Bos,
general manager (Cadillac).
Electronic reporters work from recorded depositions. They attend
the deposition, keep a log and transcribe the tape.
"Someone wanting to learn electronic reporting should
have strong typing skills of at least 75 words a minute," Bos
said. "Successful students are well-read, are good spellers,
are professional in appearance and actions and have the ability to
travel in a 60- to 80-mile radius of their homes."
Bos said applicants undergo a couple of interviews plus skills
testing before being admitted to the training program.
"We supply all equipment," she said. "Reporters are
paid by the page and they are paid for their time at a deposition.
Their salaries go up as their accuracy improves."
Jenny King is a Metro Detroit free-lance writer.
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