Court Reporter

Kaufman County • Kaufman County, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Court Reporter maintains an accurate, verbatim stenographic record of court hearings for use as the official record, including for appeals. The role transcribes hearings on request, reads back testimony during trial, maintains custody of exhibits, and prepares transcripts by proofreading, binding, and indexing them. The reporter also keeps abreast of technological advances and changes in court-reporting law and fulfills state continuing-education requirements. The role may require work outside normal office hours to meet deadlines and accuracy requirements.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED certificate.
• Two-year college or technical certificate from an accredited facility in a course specializing in court reporting.
• Six months of experience to understand court reporter duties.
• Certified Shorthand Reporter certification, required by the State, Supreme Court, and Kaufman County.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, including proper grammar, spelling, and vocabulary; question court clerks, attorneys, judges, witnesses, and others; and negotiate with attorneys or the public.
• Ability to apply fractions, percentages, and ratios to practical situations; estimate transcript size, cost, and completion time; and prioritize transcript preparation.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, interpret technical instructions, and manage abstract and concrete variables.
• Ability to determine when to go off or on the record, when to interrupt court proceedings, and whether additional time is needed to file a statement of facts.
• Ability to operate a computer and standard word-processing software and use reference materials and other sources to verify information.
• Ability to maintain composure and work quantity and quality under stress, blend into a courtroom without drawing undue attention, and sit still and expressionless for hours.
• Ability to provide own courtroom equipment.
• Ability to meet the stated physical demands, including prolonged sitting and computer and stenography work, and occasional lifting up to 20 pounds.
• Must successfully pass pre-employment screening, including drug screening, a criminal background investigation, and a driving record check.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate records of proceedings, including trial worksheets, stenographic notes, exhibits, and detailed logs.
• Transcribe and read back testimony as requested.
• File and retain custody of stenographic notes and track and maintain custody of trial exhibits.
• Proofread, bind, and index transcripts.
• Keep abreast of technological advances and changes in the law regarding court reporters’ duties, and fulfill state continuing-education requirements.
• Perform other job-related duties as directed by supervisor(s).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED