Court Reporter Schools

By L. Fabry

With starting salaries averaging around 40k to 50k, court reporting is a great way to earn money without the hassle of an expensive and time consuming education. Below are the best in court reporting blogs, along with useful resources for court reporters.

Best Group Court Reporting Blogs

These top court reporting blogs come from some of the leading agencies in the nation and world.

1. CSR Nation: This site is the ultimate resource for court reporters, scopists, videographers, and more. Court reporters are welcome to join the community of bloggers or read the many posts available. You can also view the classifieds, send files, join the community, and more.

2. Court Reporters: A Yahoo group, court reporters from across the nation can posts their thoughts and questions here. Get more information on the career, daily life, and musings. You can even get links to related topics.

3. Court Reporters Court Reporting Nationwide: This anonymous blogger writes on the court reporting world and beyond. Get tips for electronic depositions and how to prepare witnesses for video depositions. There is also an entry for how to utilize CourtReporterNet.com.

4. Todd Olivas & Associates: Located in California, this company provides court reporting services to the Southwest and beyond. In addition to the blog, court reporters can submit their information for jobs in their area. The blog also contains useful information on the education and work a court reporter does.

5. Huseby Inc.: This agency of certified court reporters is located in Charlotte, NC. The blog is full of information for established court reporters such as depositions and how court reporters can increase profits. There are also links to useful resources.

6. Kramm Court Reporting Blog: This company is located in San Diego and has useful information for the California court reporter. Posts include tips for depositions, bankers, and even what to do with original copies. The Client Center category also has a useful how to guide.

7. Association of Video Professionals Blog: Any court reporter interested in videography should visit this blog. There are tips for recording, using, and editing videos. Be sure to check out the entry from Jeff DeMello, certified legal videographer.

8. Court Reporters Board: The state of California has its own board of Court Reporters. Their mission is to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring the integrity of judicial records through oversight of the court reporting profession. A recent post examined the best practices for backup audio media.

9. Barkley Court Reporters: This leading firm is located in San Francisco, CA. It was recently recognized as the first and only certified green court reporting firm in the United States. Visit the site to read more about what they do or even see a training video.

10. Court Reporters, Court Reporting, Stenographers: Although the blog hasn’t been updated in a while, the entries are worth a read. Posts include what not to expect from a court reporter, depositions, and information on the career for different states. There are also sections devoted to work and training.

11. GMR Transcription: This company offers transcription services for psychiatrists, professors, students, attorneys, market researchers, focus group moderators, corporate meetings, etc. The blog discusses the jobs, processes, and scope of transcribing. You can even get tips for translation services as well.

12. TypeWrite Transcription: This company is located in South Africa and offers services in typing and transcription. A useful blog for anyone looking to enter the field or for a unique point of view. They even have tips for making a transcriber’s resume stand out.

13. Transcription Services & Outsourcing in India: Located overseas, this company provides an array of services from medical to legal. You can find out why outsourcing transcriptions is such a profitable business, and how you can compete with them from your very own home.

14. Closed Captioning Blog: Those interested in court reporting may also find careers as captionists. Part of Aberdeen Captioning, they provide captioning, transcription, and subtitling services. Read the blog to learn more about what they do and make sure to read Susanna’s story.

15. Medical Transcription Info & News: Part of Allied Medical School, court reporters can learn more about a career in medical transcription. In addition to learning more about the course, you can read various entries on the profession. Make sure to read the “5 steps to start your medical transcription career” entry for relevant information.

Best Individual Court Reporting Blogs

These blogs are written by individuals just starting, continuing with, or have finished a career in court reporting or a related field.

16. Kyung’s Blog: Kyung is a husband, father, and court reporter. Those interested in the typical life of a court reporter and musings will enjoy this blog. Be sure to read the “what I learned in my first year” entry.

17. The Scheer Family: Derek and Jackie are a married couple living in Washington D.C. Jackie graduated in April 2006 with an Associate of Science degree and is currently taking classes to become a certified court reporter. Get updates on her progress, along with a video on court reporting.

18. Sassy Mama Says: Lola has been a steno, court reporter, court stenographer, and verbatim technologist. She mostly blogs about daily life and what interests her. Of worthy note is the entry entitled, “The Secret Diary of a Court Reporter.”

19. All American Realtime Captioning Services: Monette Benoit formed The ARTS in 1993 in San Antonio, Texas. She used to work as a court reporter and has spoken at prominent events and conferences. The blog is her thoughts on success in business and a behind the scenes look at court reporting.

20. The Official Court Reporting Blog: Adam runs this site as a resource for court reporters and those looking to hire. You can get information on schools, pay rates, and even state specific topics. There is also the option to contact Adam with your questions.

21. New York Court Reporters Blog: Although Toby only posted in 2007, you can still get information on court reporting. There is information on schools, training, video depositions, and more.

22. Court Reporting: This is a forum by city-data that was started by hopeful and existing court reporters. Learn how much they made and where they live, along with what you can expect to learn as a court reporter.

23. Some Skinny on Court Reporting: Valerie 100 used to be a court reporter and discusses the profession in this entry. Get a realistic look at the ups and down of this career by reading the post and responses.

24. South Carolina Trial Law Blog: David is a trial lawyer in Myrtle Beach, SC. Court reporters who want to know how a true courtroom works should give this blog a read. It is also useful for getting inside the head of a lawyer.

25. Scopist: This short blog tells about the court reporter’s best friend: the scopist. You can learn who a scopist is and what they do in this blog. There is also a link to the main website where you can learn even more.

26. Videography Blog: Bob Kiger is a professional videographer, among other things. Visit his site for a look inside this world, the latest news, articles, and more.

27. Medical Transcription Blog: Raj is a medical transcribor who writes for the MT Herald. Get the latest news on the industry, along with the ramblings of Raj himself. Be sure to check out the “everything you wanted to know about medical transcription” entry to see if this career is right for you.

28. Medical Transcription at Home: Michele Miller has been in the field of medical transcription since 1994 and currently is a home transcriptionist in Fort Pierce, Florida. Learn how to make $25 to $35 an hour with her help. She even offers free email and phone consultations.

Other Useful Resources

Court reporters looking to learn more about the field can find a great deal of help in the below.

29. 10 Six Figure Jobs Without a Professional Degree: Yahoo wrote an article about the highest paying jobs that don’t require an expensive education. At number seven was court reporter. Those willing to work freelance jobs with paid overtime can look to break the six figure mark.

30. National Court Reporters Association: The NCRA is committed to advancing the profession of those who capture the spoken word into an information base for the benefit of the public and private sectors. In addition to becoming a member, visitors can read the latest news and get a list of FAQs. You can also join the online forum.

31. Court Reporter: This site is dedicated to the life and career of the court reporter. Visit for information on schools, job prospects, and support. There is also a section that details life as a court reporter.

32. Machine Shorthand: This is a useful site for information on all forms of court reporting. You can get links for court reporters, captioners, transcriptions, scopists, and more.

33. Court Reporting Resource Guide: This free guide is available from the National Center for State Courts. You can get links to all sorts of useful information on court reporting. There are also links to other legal topics.

34. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: This government organization has up to date information on court reporting. You can get information on the education requirements, typical salaries, how many jobs are available, the future of the profession, and more.

35. Best Legal Blogs: Dennis Kennedy awards the best legal blogs with a special award named the Blawggie. Court reporters interested in learning more about the law from the best lawyers will want to give this a read. Categories include best overall, specific legal interest, podcast, professor, and more.

36. Legal Talk Network: This site is the premier online legal media network. A collection of podcast from across the legal span, you can get shows from lawyers, BAR experts, and more. With twelve different legal podcasts to choose from, court reporters can find an array of useful topics.

37. Roberts’ Rocky Road: The podcast Lawyer 2 Lawyer’s J. Craig Williams and Robert Ambrogi participate in a lively discussion of John Roberts nomination for Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Court reporters will enjoy the interview with Lyle Denniston, who has been one of America’s leading Supreme Court reporters for 45 years.

38. Court Reporter: The experts at eHow have a ton of tips on multiple careers, including court reporting. Get tips on the career, stenography, and even starting your own business.

39. Top 10 Interview tips for Court Reporters: The Court Reporter Job Guide is available for a price online. However, you can get their tips for job interviews for free. You can also get information for building a website and increasing your court reporter skills.

40. National Verbatim Reporters Association: Another useful source for court reporters who are also known as verbatim reporters. Visit here for membership benefits, useful links, and more. Don’t forget to check out the eVoice publication for tons of information on court reporting.

41. Brief Encounters: A Dictionary for Court Reporting: The book contains a collection of machine shorthand abbreviations that should are excellent for realtime writing for court reporters. It has more than 20,000 words and over 6,500 phrases in the book, all listed in alphabetical order. There are even extras at the end of the book to maximize your court reporting even more.

42. Law Technology News: This publication has a ton of resources for legal professionals. You can search for jobs, read the latest articles, and more. You can even get links to legal white papers, free software, and podcasts.

43. Scholarships for Court Reporting: College Scholarships has a list of funds available for court reporting students. You can get useful information on the amount available, as well as the organization providing it. You can also get links to scholarships for other legal professions such as criminal justice, administration, and paralegals.

44. Pengad, Inc.: In business since 1936, this site has a ton of items available for legal and court reporters. View the massive inventory online or order a free catalog as a downloadable PDF. Be sure to check out the items on clearance for big savings.

45. Helpful Court Reporting Resources: Court reporters will find a ton of useful links on this site. Get help with everything from dictionaries to legislative, judicial, and more.

46. StenoBank: This is a new web-based storage solution for safe, reliable storage of your final transcripts, steno notes, and dictionaries. There is a one-time setup fee, then a low per-month subscription fee. Plus for a limited time, get an introductory offer of two months free.

47. Tax Tips: Any court reporter doing freelance work has to file taxes just like everyone else. The experts at Capital Reporting Company in Chicago offer some advice for court reporters in this article. Learn which items can be claimed as deductions, and even get links to other reporting resources.

48. Blawg: Are you a court reporter that needs to research a specific law topic? Then visit this site for a comprehensive list of blogs, podcasts, and news feeds. Check out the featured blogs or view the directory for hundreds of law blogs in dozens of areas.

49. The American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers: The AAERT is a nonprofit corporation providing education and certification for professionals engaged in electronic reporting, transcribing, and supportive employment roles. Learn more about becoming a member, get useful links, and more. You can also get a useful guide on eReporting.

50. After 58 Years…: In this article by the “Las Vegas Review-Journal,” Stella Butterfield is featured. She has been a court reporter since 1953 and still uses a pen, notebook, and dictation machine. Get quotes and tips from this legend in the field of court reporting.

Whether interested in the profession or looking to expand, these top 50 court reporting blogs, resources, and sites are sure to be of help.