Tips for Preparing for Court Reporting School

Getting an education doesn’t get easier after high school. All types of higher education come with unique challenges to overcome. This holds true for court reporting school. In fact, with a court reporting education the obstacles are unlike anything you might expect. The key to success is being well-prepared. Review these tips to give you the best shot at completing court reporting school. Court Reporting is hard and requires a lot of practice, but with hard work and dedication a successful career lies ahead.

Reporting Starts with Reading

By nature, through a career reporting, reporters become some of the most well-versed professionals due to the wide range of vocabulary used in proceedings. You need to read often to learn new words. By expanding your vocabulary, you’ll become more efficient as a reporter. Reporting school will put your skills to the test. You can’t waste time trying to figure out what a word is on the fly. You’ll have to be prepared with a vast vocabulary that will allow you to report at will. You should also familiarize yourself with legal and medical terms (prefixes and suffixes) to become an accurate reporter. Similarly, stay abreast of current events to report references mentioned in a proceeding accurately.

Know the Tools

Like many other professions, court reporting requires the use of special tools. These devices, such as a stenography machine, will be your daily companions. To become a successful reporter, you’ll have to get very familiar with this technology during school. Becoming comfortable with the machine will require consistent practice. Don’t be alarmed if you need to practice up to four hours a day. You’ll need to be able to report at close to 225 words per minute to graduate and get certification. You might also use this time to build a dictionary in your machine. If you take each of these steps seriously, you’ll be on your way to completing court reporting school.

Practice Your Speed

Court reporting is all about speed and accuracy. The first part of this equation can be honed by using a speed building schedule. You can do this by creating a regimen that you work on daily. Try starting slow and building up to a faster recording pace. Be sure to take breaks in between to check your accuracy. You’ll also want to do a cool-down at the end, much like any other exercise plan. When you do this, you’ll build up the stamina needed to handle long takes in court reporting school.

Network, Network, Network

No court reporter completed their schooling all alone. In fact, interacting with others is a big part of your education. Make sure to form study and practice groups with your friends and colleagues. Also, don’t be afraid to go to your professor for extra help. Shadow local San Francisco court reporters to get an inside look at court reporting and ask questions regarding schooling. They can give you advice and support during hard times. They will also be an essential source of information regarding future employment. At least 50% of those who start a court reporting school fail out. This is probably due to a lack of a support system. Don’t be one of these people. Network early on and keep it up even after your graduation.

Another Tip

Don’t forget to take care of yourself while in court reporting school. The state of your physical health can have a significant effect on your ability to learn and focus. Take the time to exercise and eat healthy to keep your body functioning at an optimal level.