Dreaming about a new and exciting career? If your trying to have a change of scenery in the work world that has become dull or if you want make more money and need a new challenge, court transcription is a great area to look into.
You may ask, what is a transcriptionist? Basically, this is anyone who works transcribing notes or speech, or a case within the legal system. Have you ever been in a courtroom? If so, you will likely have seen a man or woman sitting at the front of the courtroom, typing while everyone speaks.
That person is called an official court reporter, and the job they have is very important. They make sure that everything is on official record, so that it can be looked at and verified at a later date. This is critical in a court of law, as it creates a chain of transparency that allows anyone to see for himself or herself that everything was done legally, and constitutionally.
The requirements for court reporting tend to vary by state. But the average training you will be given will teach you to type between 220 and 250 words per minute with 98% accuracy. Part of this will be learning a type of legal shorthand, which will able you to type more in less time. But some cases or jobs will require other specifications, especially to become a real-time court reporter, in a face-to-face setting.
The earnings also depend on training, experience and the state in which you reside. However, the amount from lowest to highest is usually around $25,000 and $75,000. This also depends on the kind of position you decide on, whether it is business related, academic or legal, as all three fields often require court reporters to handle a certain workload.
The fact that demand is high in this field and it is continuing to grow makes it one of the best parts of this job. The estimated growth for most states is more than 20% by 2010, making it a much more stable selection in a time of mass unemployment, and also a great idea for a long term career.
