How I Fell in Love with Court Reporting: My Journey
Court reporting wasn't just a career choice for me—it was practically written in my DNA. Looking back on my 42-year journey in this incredible profession, I can't help but smile at how perfectly everything fell into place, even when it wasn't part of my original plan.
Growing Up in a Court Reporting Family
My path into court reporting started before I could even spell the words. My father was a court reporter, and my grandfather was a judge, so the legal world was always part of our dinner table conversations. But here's the thing—I actually wanted to be a lawyer. That was my dream throughout high school.
The reality check came when I started thinking about college costs. Law school was going to be expensive, and I knew I needed a way to put myself through both college and law school. That's when court reporting entered my mind as more than just "dad's job." It seemed like the perfect solution: I could work as a court reporter to fund my education and then transition into law.
Little did I know that once I got into court reporting, I'd fall so head-over-heels in love with it that I'd never want to leave.
My First Encounter with the Steno Machine
I got my hands on a steno machine when I was just 2 or 3, basically as soon as I could sit still long enough to play with my dad's machine.
Those early years of "playing" were actually my first introduction to the magic of stenography. There was something fascinating about watching those keys create mysterious combinations of letters that somehow turned into real words.
Court Reporting School: The Real Journey Begins
Right after high school, I dove straight into court reporting school. This was back in the day when everything was different—no computers, no internet, just pure paper and determination. We would write on our steno machines at school, and then we'd have to type up our transcripts from our paper notes for our tests.
I attended school three nights a week, from 6:00 to 9:30. I had a blast in CR school even though sometimes it was pretty intense.
I don't remember the name of my theory, but it included lots of briefs and phrases, and so I feel super lucky that it wasn't some write-everything-out theory.
The Obsession Phase
Here's where my love affair with court reporting really took off. I became completely obsessed with practicing. I would go to school on Saturdays when they had lab time available because they had all these cassette tapes we could listen to and with which to practice. Remember, there was no internet back then, so no online dictations—just cassettes.
But it didn't stop there. I took my machine to work with me every day. During lunch time, I'd practice writing and then read back my steno notes. I even kept it under my desk and sometimes I'd write what people were saying around me when I was supposed to be working (probably not my most productive work moments, but great for my steno skills!).
The most fun part? My dad also worked as an official for the county where I was employed. We would send each other letters written in steno through the county's interoffice communications system. Imagine the mailroom workers trying to figure out what those mysterious pages of steno meant!
Breaking into the Field
After I received my license, I was bombarded with offers to work either as a per diem in court or a freelance court reporter. It was just so much fun! Every day brought something new, different cases, interesting people, and the constant challenge of capturing every word accurately and efficiently.
The work was everything I had hoped for and more. There's something incredibly satisfying about being the person responsible for creating the official record, knowing that attorneys, judges, and parties are all depending on one's accuracy and professionalism.
Many students find this daunting, but just remember, that we are Masters of the Court! We can stop an overtalking segment or ask people to slow down.
42 Years and Counting
Fast forward to today, and I've been in this profession for 42 years and it is still a blast!!! The changes I've witnessed in technology and our industry have been absolutely remarkable. We went from those paper notes I started with to computers, then sophisticated software with synched audio and now we're incorporating AI technologies that would have seemed like science fiction when I first started.
Each technological advancement has made our work more efficient and opened up new possibilities instead of replacing us.
Why I Never Left for Law
You might wonder what happened to that original dream of becoming a lawyer. The truth is, once I got into court reporting, I discovered that this profession gave me everything I was looking for in a legal career and more. I get to be involved in fascinating cases, work with attorneys, and play a crucial role in the justice system—all while maintaining the flexibility and variety that comes with freelance work.
Court reporting offers something unique: you're essential to the legal process, but you get to observe without the stress of advocacy. You're the neutral party who ensures that every word is preserved for history, appeals, and future reference. There's a certain zen-like quality to focusing solely on accuracy and completeness while incredible legal dramas unfold around you.
The Future of Court Reporting
At this stage in my career, I'm more excited about the future of court reporting than ever before. The integration of technology hasn't replaced us—it's enhanced our capabilities. We're still the guardians of the record, but now we have tools that help us do our job even better.
I'm going to be one of those court reporters who is still reporting at 80 years of age, I betcha! This profession has given me 42 years of interesting work, financial stability, intellectual challenge, and the satisfaction of contributing to our justice system. Why would I ever want to stop?
For Those Considering Court Reporting
If you're thinking about entering this field, know that it's not just a job—it's a profession that can become a true passion. The learning curve is steep, and the practice requirements are intense, but the rewards are immeasurable. Whether you're interested in traditional court reporting or exploring applications like captioning and CART services, there are more opportunities in this field than ever before.
The key is that obsessive practice phase I went through—embrace it. Find ways to incorporate steno into your daily life, practice constantly, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. I'm going to repeat this because it's so important: DON'T BE AFRAID TO MAK EMISTAKES. Every error is a learning opportunity, and every hour of practice brings you closer to the speed and accuracy you need to succeed.
This profession chose me as much as I chose it, and 42 years later, I'm still as passionate about it as I was on that first day of court reporting school. That's the kind of career satisfaction everyone deserves to find.