Top 5 Qualities to Look for in a Court Reporter
By J.D. Sammons • Copy Writer
You've been assigned the dream case. You're ready to take your first deposition. Now it's time to choose the most qualified court reporter. Choosing the right reporter could potentially turn a dream case into a nightmare. Here are the 5 qualities to look for when choosing a court reporter for your assigned case.
Accuracy & Certifications
Court Reporters are highly critical to the verbatim capture and accurate output of your deposition or hearing testimony. Ensuring the chosen reporter has the required skills necessary to handle your case means accuracy and certifications are a must.
Court reporting accuracy typically involves a typing speed of 225 wpm or higher with an accuracy level of 97.5% according to the National Court Reporting Association. While typing speed with accuracy is an important requirement, certification in the industry ensures knowledge and professionalism.
A certified court reporter is equipped to manage each proceeding with a high level of detail, time management, and professionalism needed for success.
225
Words Per Minute
Minimum typing speed requirement
97.5%
Accuracy Level
Industry standard for precision
Professionalism & Punctuality
Being confident in your reporter's integrity and readiness for the upcoming proceeding is a game changer. This is why professionalism and punctuality are necessary court reporter qualifications.
Trust in Timeliness
Can you trust that your court reporter will be on-time? Legal proceedings cannot start until the court reporter is available.
Confidence in Conduct
Can you trust that your court reporter will conduct the proceeding with confidence and professionalism?
Thankfully, the court reporting industry standards are based upon strict ethical guidelines that support industry professionalism. Certified court reporters are trained to adhere to punctuality because legal proceedings cannot start until the court reporter is available.
Download Our Court Reporting Hiring Checklist
Mastery of Technology
With ever-evolving technology, court transcript capture and production is becoming easier than ever. Nevertheless, today's court reporter must possess the quality to have mastery of these new technologies.
Thanks to advanced technologies, today's legal proceedings offer realtime, verbatim captures as the proceeding is in progress. The capturing technology applications vary across the board such as Reporter Studio Pro or ASOne.
Realtime Reporting
Instant verbatim capture as proceedings unfold, providing immediate access to testimony
E-Transcript™ Standard
Industry standard for electronic transcription offering security, convenience and paper-identical formatting
Continuous Learning
Reporters must stay current with ongoing technological advancements in the field
Legal transcript production output can now be either paper or electronic, and E-Transcript™ is today's industry standard for electronic transcription due to its security, convenience, and its identical resemblance to paper transcript. Reporters — whether a stenographer or a digital court reporter — must have a firm understanding of these technologies.
Confidentiality & Ethics
Successful reporters that demonstrate these top 5 qualities, plus strict adherence to the non-negotiables, create a win-win situation. Court Reporters are legally and ethically bound to uphold the confidentiality of all proceeding records.
Impartiality
Avoiding any bias throughout proceedings
No Conflicts
Avoiding conflicts of interest or impropriety
Gift Restrictions
Refusal of gifts over $150 annually
Honest Accounts
Providing accurate testimony records
Whether inside or outside the courtroom, reporters are obligated to safeguard the confidentiality of the entire testimony at all times, which could include exhibits, notes, personal identifiable information, or avoiding any unauthorized disclosure of the record.
Your Success Depends on Quality Reporting
It's important to remember that your client and their case deserves the best possible outcome at winning. And a small, yet significant, percentage of that outcome could be determined by the qualities of the assigned Court Reporter.
As an officer of the court, reporters that are certified, accurate, professional, punctual and can master ever-evolving industry technologies will ensure that your deposition or trial will run smoothly and free of distractions.
1
Accuracy & Certifications
225+ WPM with 97.5% accuracy and industry credentials
2
Professionalism & Punctuality
Adherence to ethical guidelines and timely arrival
3
Technology Mastery
Proficiency in realtime reporting and E-Transcript™ systems
4
Confidentiality & Ethics
Unwavering commitment to privacy and professional standards
Download Your Free Hiring Checklist
Make the Right Choice Every Time
Don't leave your case success to chance. Our comprehensive Court Reporting Hiring Checklist ensures you evaluate every critical quality before making your selection.
This free resource includes detailed evaluation criteria, questions to ask potential reporters, and a scoring system to help you identify the most qualified professional for your needs.
✓ Certification Verification
Confirm credentials and qualifications
✓ Technology Assessment
Evaluate technical capabilities
✓ Reference Checks
Validate professionalism and reliability
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