How to Become a Court Reporter in Massachusetts?

A court reporter has a very important role to play in legal proceedings as they record everything that is being said in courtroom and prepare transcripts of the proceeding. Court reporters use a stenotype machine to record information and it takes a lot of training to become a licensed stenographer.

 

Presenting every spoken word in the form of a written document, certified court reporters use shorthand or voice writing equipment. They develop transcripts of witness statements, conferences, high profile criminal trials, hearings, committee meetings, and pre-trial depositions. Before you decide to step into the career of court reporter, it is important to understand the responsibilities involved and work schedule that needs to be followed. Once you have chosen a career path, enroll in a school that offers certified court reporting degree program.

How to Become a Court Reporter in Massachusetts
How to Become a Court Reporter in Massachusetts

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Should I Become a Court Reporter in Massachusetts

Do you have what it takes to become a court reporter in Massachusetts? Below are the education requirements and basic skills that are required to be come a professional court reporter.

Educational RequirementsPost-secondary education or an Associate’s degree
Experience/TrainingCertification and License
Key SkillsAssertiveness, Administrative Skills, Confidentiality, Effective Communication, Morality, Neutrality, Dependable, Punctual, English Grammar Skills, Punctuation and Proofreading, Follow Oral and Written Directions, Speed and Accuracy, Technical Skills
Annual Mean Salary – US (2021)$ 65,240
Annual Mean Salary – Massachusetts (2021)$ 60,910
Job Outlook – US (2020-2030)3%
  • They are responsible for oath administration
  • They have to produce an accurate verbatim transcript
  • They have to re-read testimonials in proceedings
  • They are responsible for identifying and marking exhibits
  • They have to translate statements when needed
  • They are responsible for depositions of telephone/video conferences and video tapes
  • They are responsible for reporting speakers’ actions and gestures

Types of court reporters in Massachusetts

There are three types of court reporters in the State of Massachusetts. These include voice writers, stenographers and electronic reporters. Voice writers are responsible for recording real time information. Stenographers record legislative sessions, committee meetings, depositions and court testimonies. They use a stenotype machine to transcribe whatever is stated in a court hearing. Electronic reporters are responsible for writing down the stenotype transcripts.

Skill requirements

  • Strong writing skills; court reporters need a good command of punctuation, vocabulary and grammar
  • Strong concentration skills; court reporters need good concentration skills to help them stay attentive even in the presence of auditory distractions
  • Proficiency with digital voice recording and stenography; court reporters should be able to type 225 words per minute
  • Strong listening skills; court reporters need good listening skills to accurately record every word that is said during a court hearing
  • Attention to detail; court reporters are required to produce error free transcripts

Steps involved in becoming a Court Reporter in Massachusetts

No state license is required to work as a court reported in Massachusetts. In order to become a court reporter in Massachusetts, you will have to follow the following steps:

Step 1: Receive training to become a court reporter

Many schools in Massachusetts offer programs that can help you to start your career as a court reporter. You can earn a degree or a diploma through a training program in order to develop and polish the skills required for this job. You can specialize in any of the following:

  • Stenography: It can take a lot of time (sometimes years) to learn stenographic typing. If you decide to study stenography, you will be required to learn computer software called Computer Aided Transcription (CAT). Several colleges in Massachusetts offer stenographic court reporting programs. The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) highly recommends these courses. According to the requirements set by the NCRA, you will have to achieve an average of 225 words per minute on the speed writing test; otherwise you will fail the stenograph machine training.
  • Voice writing: According to the standards set by National Verbatim Reporters Association, you will have to achieve an average of 225 words per minute to pass the speed writing test.
  • Electronic reporting: A court reporter training institute can teach you the specialized skills needed for electronic reporting. If you decide to study electronic reporting, you will have to learn about various digital recording formats and reporting software. The American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT) awards certifications for electronic reporting.
Step 2: Become a Notary Public

As per the requirements of the state of Massachusetts, court reporters have to become a notary public. In order to become a notary public, you will have to fill out and send an application to the Notary Public Department. The copy of this application form is available online. You will have to complete a Massachusetts Notary Training Course before you send out the application. Once you have received the completion certificate, you can apply to become a Notary Public. You will also need to get three residents of Massachusetts and a lawyer to endorse your application. Please note that the residents should be at least 18 years of age. The application processing time is 2-3 weeks.

Step 3: Search for Employment opportunities

The next step is to find employment as a court reporter in Massachusetts. You can check the NCRA’s employment page for Massachusetts, classified ads displayed on MCRA, online job postings and job postings with the courts (like Massachusetts Appeals Court, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Massachusetts Trial Court). You can make an account on employment websites and portals like LinkedIn where companies can view your application. Many court reporting firms are operating in Massachusetts. Court reporters can check vacancies in these firms as well. Once court reporters are hired, they usually undergo on the job training that lasts a few weeks. This training focuses on the use of certain kinds of equipment that may be used in legal proceedings.

Step 4: Maintain certifications

You will need to maintain your certifications once you become a court reporter. Both the National Verbatim Reporters Association (NVRA) and the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) will require you to meet the continuing education requirements in order to maintain your certifications. They have a 3 year period for continuing education requirements. Your certification will be cancelled if you fail to meet the requirements.

Salary estimates of court reporters in Massachusetts

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021, the annual mean wage of court reporters in the Massachusetts is $ 60,910. In comparison, the national annual mean wage is $ 65,240. There is a demand for court reporters in the state owing to the robust nature of the job. Court reporters are an integral part of legal system, and all court proceedings require their presence. Below are the top paying states for court reporters and simultaneous captioners:

StateAnnual Mean Wage 
New York$ 100,270
California$ 83,720
Texas$ 81,460
Iowa$ 77,090
Colorado$ 76,410

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021)

Career Outlook

According to the latest data published by O*Net Online, Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners employed in the state of Massachusetts will enjoy an exceptional job growth of 15% between 2018 and 2028 against the national average of 3% between 2020 and 2030. Below are the states with the highest employment level for court reporters and simultaneous captioners:

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StateEmployment 
California1,400
New York1,250
Michigan990
Florida810
Indiana790

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021)

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