Maryland Court Reporters
The demand for court reporters is expected to grow by 14 percent from 2010 to 2020 due to new federal legislation requiring increasing access to captioning on the Internet and other technologies. Along with the traditional role of the court reporter creating transcripts during court cases and depositions, court reporters are also responsible for all closed captioning. With the demand for court reporters set to grow significantly, the market is becoming more competitive in finding and employing potential court reporters in Maryland.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a court reporter is responsible for doing the following:
- Attend events that require written transcripts
- Record spoken dialogue with specialized equipment, such as covered microphones
- Report gestures and actions
- Review notes for names of speakers and technical terminology
- Prepare transcripts for the record
- Edit transcripts for typographical errors
- Provide copies of transcripts and recordings to the courts, counsels, and parties involved.
Working as a Court Reporter in Maryland
Since most court reporters are employed by state and local governments, Maryland’s proximity to Washington, D.C. makes it the perfect place to begin your career as a court reporter. 56% of all court reporters in the country currently work for their state or local government. Given the environment, the percentage is slightly skewed in Washington, D.C. due to the tremendous opportunity in government court reporting.
Typically full-time employees, court reporters record events and prepare transcripts across multiple professional mediums. Freelance court reporters generally spend a majority of time preparing pretrial depositions and other events. Freelance court reporters have more flexibility in scheduling and can often operate remotely from their home.
How to Become a Court Reporter in Maryland
The level of education for a court reporter can vary depending on the technique they will use to record and transcribe information. Programs in using steno mask and in digital recording typically last 6 months and lead to a certificate, while programs in stenography can last 2-4 years and often lead to an associate’s degree. Most programs include courses in English grammar and phonetics, legal procedures and terminology to better prepare participants for the professional workforce of court reporters.
In many states, court reporters who are looking to a career in in legal setting are required to be licensed. The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) offers certification in the field. Certification as a Registered Professional Reporter includes a written test and a skills test, in which court reporters are required to be able to type a minimum of 225 words a minute. Once hired, court reporters are generally required to take part in continuing education and training programs to maintain their certification.