Court reporting has become the popular kid at the occupational lunch table. While student loan debt continues to hit the headlines this year as a major political campaign issue, many individuals are also looking for jobs in areas not requiring years of studying topics unrelated to their desired occupations.Many people are not aware of the opportunities in the court reporting industry. The field is wide open, partly because it's not a career that springs readily to mind. Once becoming cognizant of its advantage, it presents an understandable attraction to those seeking to start a new profession.Although court reporting brings to mind an individual typing away at a courtroom trial, the majority of court reporters are independent contractors. They perform their work in corporate conference rooms, law offices, board meetings and the like. Freelance court reporters enjoy a unique flexibility found in few other vocations; they set their own schedules, working when, where and for whom they desire.According to a recent reports, it may take anywhere from eighteen months to three years to complete studies, depending on the student's situation and ability to stay on track. After graduation, students qualify for internships that often lead to employment opportunities. The graduate may go to work for one agency, from whom he/she will receive their assignments, or may choose to receive assignment from multiple agencies. The choice is theirs.The National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) is optimistic regarding the industry's continued growth. Sarah Nageotte, NCRA president, stated in a 2014 article that, "15 percent of the industry is poised to retire. That adds up to about 5,500 new job openings over the next five years." Thus, increasing demand and future reporter shortages are anticipated.The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook asserts that those with, "experience and training in techniques for helping deaf or hard-of-hearing people, such as real-time captioning and Communication Access Real-Time Translation (CART), and closed captioning are among the available job prospects for experienced court reporters."Questions or comments about this story? Are you looking for a qualified court reporter? Call us today!
