Disclaimer: The website may collect compensation for links, mentions and/or videos that are placed in the content.

Disclosure: All content is intended for general information purposes only. We are not professionals in any specialized field. Please consult an expert before making any decisions involving your health, finances, or general well being.

What comes to mind when you think of court reporters? Many envision a fast-paced, courtroom environment, where reporters standby cases, breathlessly waiting to write down each detail as it unfolds. And while many court reporters do certainly work in court rooms, that isn’t the only position they can undertake. In fact, many fail to realize that court reporting is an extremely versatile career: 70% of all court reporters actually work outside of court within the United States. So what else do these 50,000 odd court reporters across the country do? Check out 3 types of services that court reporters regularly fill:

Within the Court Systems
As discussed, this is one of the most obvious and evident roles court reporters fill. As a trial transpires, these reporters are responsible for transcribing everything that happens within a court room during a trial. They must type everything that is said — verbatim — with at least 95% accuracy. The transcription then gets entered into a database and is used as a reference for later cases, and is also to be used as a clear demonstration of the court proceedings.

For Attorneys and Firms
Before cases happen, lawyers and firms need to interview witnesses, do research, and compile information before proceedings can take place. These happen in either the form of video depositions or written deposition services. Deposition services are crucial to any court case, yet happen entirely outside of the court room.

For the Court Reporting Agency
The U.S. has three national court reporting agencies: The National Court Reporters Association, The National Verbatim Court Reporters Association, and the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers. These national court reporting agencies are responsible for regulating the 50,000 active court reporters across the nation, and are also responsible for approving aspiring court reporters after they finish school.

And these industries are only growing. Have you ever thought about being a court reporter?