Make Your Workspace Work For You: The Essential Supplies Required for Court Reporting

Exhibit Indexes offers a variety of court reporting supplies available for immediate in-house delivery that include index tabs, exhibit labels, and more.

Would you like to work from home while court reporting and make a salary of $40,000 to $70,000 per year?

Court reporters work for a variety of agencies, attorneys, and courts, and most work out of their home.

If this sounds interesting to you, you might be wondering what you need to get started.

When working in a courtroom, a court reporter’s office must be mobile, as they spend a lot of time traveling from court and deposition locations.

Not only do they need to be able to pick up and go, but court reporters are expected to provide consistently accurate transcripts.

These unique circumstances make the tools court reporters use specific to the trade. As most court reporters work remotely on a freelance basis, they have to procure their own equipment to perform their job.

Keep reading for an overview of working remotely as a court reporter and which court reporting supplies you’ll need to be successful in the profession.

Decide Where to Work

Before deciding which supplies you’ll need, you need to be familiar with the space you will be working in.

Will you be working from home? If so, you have to be sure to pick the room that you will be most productive in. This could be a dedicated office or a guest bedroom. Or, you could get creative and set up your office in a secondary space such as a loft or alcove.

If working from home doesn’t motivate you, you can also find a co-working space that will allow you to rent a small office or suite. This way, you get to enjoy the benefits of working as a freelancer, but still reap the positive influences of being in a social environment.

These coworking communities provide remote workers with unique accommodations, such as shared snack kitchens (sometimes with beer on tap!), gyms, and game rooms. This environment can drive innovation and maximize your overall output.

Finally, some freelancers choose to be nomads and work out of places such as coffee shops, libraries, or public parks. If you get bored easily and like a change of scenery, this option might be for you.

Wherever you decide to set up shop, it should be a place that is free of distraction. It should also be a room in your house that you feel happy and comfortable in.

Consider a space with cheerful colors, as studies show that workspace colors directly impact an individual’s mood.

Simply put, you will be the most productive in an environment you enjoy.

Court Reporting Supplies and Resources

Now that you know where you will be working, it’s time to talk about the other necessities. Whether you’re just getting started or a seasoned court reporter, there are supplies that are necessary for every skill level.

Stenograph Machine

Stenographs are small devices that court reporters use to record what is being said in the courtroom. The court relies on this information, so the information court reporters capture must be accurate and reliable.

In order to catch what is being said accurately, reporters must type fast. In fact, court reporters must be able to type around 225 words per minute.

Stenographs have keyboards that type in phonetic sounds rather than letters, which allow for seriously fast typing speeds. These keyboards look like a mix between an older laptop and traditional typewriter.

There are multiple types of steno machines to choose from, including manual or computerized, computerized with an attached screen, or ones with a built-in computer-aided transcription (CAT) system.

Whichever steno machine you decide to purchase, make sure you look into the warranty. You want a machine that is reliable to do your job.

Computer

You can’t work with just a stenograph machine. You’ll also need to purchase a computer, most likely a laptop, to be a successful court reporter.

You will want a computer that is up-to-date, responsive and has plenty of storage for the information you will need to keep track of on a daily basis.

CAT Software

Your stenograph will be connected to your laptop, which should be loaded with CAT software.

This software transcribes shorthand almost instantaneously, which greatly improves your productivity. It provides the participants with written transcripts quickly by displaying them on a screen or transmitting them elsewhere.

There are many CAT tools available. If you’re just getting started, do your research and select a reliable, easy-to-learn system.

Speedy Internet

When working from home or a remote location, you must have a fast internet connection so that you can receive and transmit information quickly.

As a court reporter, it is important to protect sensitive data. You have to have the tools to deal with confidential documents. A strong internet connection will help you do that.

A fast internet connection is required to set up a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN is an encrypted connection that allows you to safely send private and confidential information. With a VPN in place, unauthorized people are barred from the network, while people who are working on the same projects can share data from across the globe.

Internet depositions and video streaming are also becoming more popular in the court reporting industry. This is especially true in cases that require clients to travel across state lines – or to the other side of the country.

With a reliable, fast internet connection, text, video, and audio can be streamed and shared with the individuals that need access. The opportunity to share depositions in realtime can give you a serious edge as a court reporter.

Recording Equipment

Many successful court reporters like to use digital recorders to ensure they’re collecting the most accurate data possible. During a deposition, you can activate the recorder to capture what is being said.

Later, you can playback the recording and compare it to your transcript. This is a simple way to double-check your work and save you time and peace of mind in the long run.

While some reporters set themselves up with a camera, tripod, and professional microphones, it is not necessary to go to that extreme. Depending on your preferences, you may be happy with a simple app on your mobile device or a traditional audio recorder that fits in your pocket.

Reference Manual

Most court reporters use reference manuals to maintain the required high-level of accuracy in their work. These guides prepare reporters by strengthening their data processing, formatting, and communication skills.

Popular manuals include the Gregg Reference Manual and the Morson’s Guide to English for Court Reporters. You are not limited to these guides, however. You can choose to use a more familiar guide, such as the Chicago Style Manual.

Whichever you choose, each of these manuals will add another level of professionalism to your work.

While these proofreading guides are available in printed form, you can also access them electronically, which is helpful while you’re on the go.

Office Supplies

As a court reporter, you will want to have an extensive selection of legal office supplies to make life easier, such as exhibit tabs and labels, transcript covers, and binders. You can also purchase convenient items such as exhibit stamps if you happen to run out of labels when away from your home office.

These office supplies will keep you organized when preparing for an upcoming trial or other projects. You will come to find that finding high-quality office supplies is imperative to perform your job efficiently. Once you decide what you like, you will order the same supplies over and over again.

You want these supplies to be well-made so that your work is professional and the most presentable to clients. They also need to be sturdy enough to withstand the travel that most court reporters do between their homes and court or client locations.

That’s Not All

These are only a few of the tools that are required to be a successful and productive court reporter. This list doesn’t include other essentials like extension cords, chargers, SD cards, batteries, and more!

As a court reporter, you are the lifeblood of the legal and deposition industry. Court reporters are known for having impressive mental processing skills, so your supplies should be just as amazing. "Wow" your clients with organized and well-presented deliverables.

Are you ready to set-up your remote office?

Check out our unique line of court reporter supplies to get started today. We’re dedicated to giving you the best service and access to the highest quality court reporting products – each and every time you shop with us.