Court Reporter
Introduction
Court reporters attend court to make a verbatim record of the hearings. They
record witnesses' evidence, legal submissions, the judge's summing up, the
verdict and any later sentencing hearings.
Also known as
Stenographer
Shorthand Reporter
Verbatim Reporter
Work Activities
Court reporters listen carefully to the court proceedings. They record them using machine shorthand (or
stenotyping).
Machine shorthand is a system that uses special keyboards. These enable reporters to input whole words and
phrases at the touch of a button.
The court reporter can press any number of keys in combination with only one key stroke, rather than using a
separate key stroke for each letter. Machine shorthand is therefore much quicker than using a traditional keyboard.
Sometimes the reporter must record everything that is said, for example, when there is a guilty plea in a Crown Court
. In other situations, the reporter may only record something when they are asked to take a note, for example, when
a Crown Court hears an appeal from a Magistrates' Court. (This information applies to England and Wales only. In
Scotland court reporters provide an accurate transcript of proceedings in the Sheriff Court, the High Court and the
Court of Session.)
It is the court reporter's responsibility to produce a clear and accurate transcript. They may have to edit their text to
make sure it is grammatically correct and easy to understand. Court reporters may also have to check facts such as
names and quotations from law reports, text books, statutes and documents.
By linking a machine to a television screen, court reporters can provide a 'real time' transcription service.
The reporter captures the proceedings as normal and the words are translated by the computer into English text and
appear on screen as the reporter writes them.
There are two main reasons for reporting what happens in court. Firstly, in long cases, lawyers need to see a
transcript of the day's proceedings to remind them of what has taken place and help them prepare for the next stage
of the case.
Secondly, when a case goes to an appeal court, a record of the original case is used by legal professionals to help
them prepare and to see how decisions were reached at the time of the original trial.
Being able to read, write and speak Welsh may be an advantage when you’re looking for work in Wales.
Personal Qualities and Skills
To do this job well, you'll need:
Excellent listening skills.
The ability to work well under pressure.
To be able to use machine shorthand with speed and accuracy.
Excellent written English language skills to produce edited, grammatically correct transcripts.
A good understanding of legal terms and jargon.
The ability to pay close attention to detail.
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Good powers of concentration.
You need a shorthand speed of 160 words per minute in order to sit the British Institute of Verbatim Reporters
Associateship examination.
You must have a confident nature, because occasionally a judge will ask a reporter to read aloud a part of the text to
the court. You will also need to be of smart appearance.
Pay and Opportunities
Pay
Earnings for court reporters vary depending on skill level and experience.
The pay rates given below are approximate.
Court reporters earn in the range £14,000 - £15,500, rising to £18,000 - £22,000 with experience.
Pay rates for stenographers, who do work other than court reporting, can be as high as £300 per hour.
Hours of work
While most courts sit between 10:30 am and 4:30 pm, hours can be irregular, so court reporters must be flexible in
their hours of work. Part-time work may also be available.
Demand
Demand for speech to text reporters is growing. The demand from the deaf and hearing communities across all
public services and the private sector is very high. National and international legislation coming from the EU and the
UN on human rights and equality is also driving demand up.
Where could I work?
Court reporters work in the High Courts, the Central Criminal Court, the Courts of Appeal and the Crown Courts. They
could also work outside the legal profession in an area such as verbatim reporting.
Opportunities for court reporters occur in courts in towns and cities throughout the UK.
Self-employment
Most court reporters work as self-employed, freelance reporters who find work with firms of shorthand reporters.
These firms are appointed by The Ministry of Justice in England and Wales to record for the court system.
Where are vacancies advertised?
Vacancies are advertised on all the major job boards, on Universal Jobmatch, and at Jobcentre Plus.
Entry Routes and Training
Entry routes
To enter this career, you'll need to have stenography (machine shorthand) skills. This usually means you'll have to pay
for a private course, either at a college or via distance learning. The British Institute of Verbatim Reporters (BIVR) has
a list of colleges and individuals that provide courses.
Training
Training courses cover basic theory and help students to reach a trainee reporting speed of 160 words per minute.
Once in employment, trainees work alongside experienced court reporters, so they can improve their technique.
Once they can manage 160 words per minute, students may take the BIVR's Associateship examination (you must
present the Institute with a recognised certificate as evidence that you can achieve 160 words per minute).
Eventually, you will need a reporting speed of about 180 words a minute.
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General shorthand training is available through colleges or private training organisations.
Progression
Some court reporters set up their own agencies. Most reporters are self-employed.
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
Court reporters who work in the Royal Courts of Justice or the Central Criminal Court are exceptions to the
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent
or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers,
where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.
Qualifications
Employers expect applicants to be trained in the use of stenotyping machines and have reached a minimum
shorthand speed of at least 180 words per minute.
Entry requirements for training courses vary, but you will usually need:
4/5 GCSEs at grade C or above including English.
Some applicants have A levels, a degree or other higher education qualifications.
Some universities accept the Welsh Baccalaureate as equivalent to 1 A-level.
Adult Opportunities
Age limits
It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show
there is a real need to have these limits.
Skills/experience
Entrants with relevant skills and experience, for example, gained as a shorthand secretary or legal secretary, have an
advantage.
Most court reporters work as self-employed, freelance reporters who find work with firms of shorthand reporters.
Courses
Courses in machine shorthand are available full- and part-time, and by distance learning from Sorene Court
Reporting and Training Services.
Further Information
Contacts
Skills for Justice
Skills for justice, community safety, armed forces and legal services
Address: Distington House, 26 Atlas Way, Sheffield S4 7QQ
Tel: 0114 2611499
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sfjuk.com
All About Law
Address: 89 Worship Street, London EC2A 2BF
Tel: 020 7392 2648
Website: www.allaboutlaw.co.uk
British Institute of Verbatim Reporters (BIVR)
Address: 73 Alicia Gardens, Kenton, Harrow, Middlesex HA3 8JD
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Tel: 020 8907 8249
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bivr.org.uk
Sorene Court Reporting and Training Services
Address: 73 Alicia Gardens, Kenton, Harrow, Middlesex HA3 8JD
Tel: 020 8907 8249
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sorene.co.uk
Ministry of Justice (MOJ)
Website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
Scottish Court Service (SCS)
Scottish enquiries
Address: Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh EH11 3XD
Tel: 0131 4443300
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.scotcourts.gov.uk
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