Court Reporter Resume examples & templates

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Copyable Court Reporter Resume examples

Court reporting traces its roots back to ancient Rome, where scribes known as "notarii" documented legal proceedings through shorthand systems. Fast-forward to the 1870s when stenotype machines revolutionized the craft, allowing reporters to capture testimony at previously impossible speeds. Today's court reporters are tech-savvy documentation specialists who blend traditional stenography with cutting-edge digital recording methods. They're the silent guardians of the legal record—capturing every word, objection, and nuance that unfolds in courtrooms, depositions, and legislative sessions across the country.

While many predicted digital recording would make human court reporters obsolete, the field has actually grown by 9.1% since 2018. The shortage of qualified reporters (with some jurisdictions reporting up to 35% vacancy rates) has driven salaries upward and created excellent opportunities for those with the right skills. Modern court reporters aren't just transcriptionists—they're managing real-time captioning for virtual hearings, providing accessibility services, and handling complex digital evidence preservation. As courts continue adapting to hybrid proceedings and expanding access to justice initiatives, skilled court reporters will remain indispensable bridges between spoken testimony and the permanent legal record.

Junior Court Reporter Resume Example

Jessica Martinez

Phone: (619) 555-4827 | Email: jmartinez@email.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessica-martinez | San Diego, CA

Recent graduate with Certified Court Reporter (CCR) credential and 1+ year of experience transcribing legal proceedings with 98% accuracy. Skilled in real-time reporting and proficient with stenography equipment. Quick learner who thrives in fast-paced environments while maintaining attention to detail. Committed to producing verbatim transcripts that meet strict court deadlines.

EXPERIENCE

Junior Court Reporter – San Diego County Superior Court, San Diego, CA (August 2023 – Present)

  • Transcribe court proceedings including hearings, trials and depositions using stenotype machine with 225+ words per minute accuracy
  • Prepare and deliver official transcripts within 10-day deadline window for 47 different cases
  • Maintain detailed records of exhibits, speaker identification, and technical terminology
  • Collaborate with 3 senior court reporters to develop consistent formatting standards for complex cases

Court Reporting Intern – Westlake Reporting Services, San Diego, CA (January 2023 – July 2023)

  • Shadowed senior court reporters during depositions and hearings to learn professional protocols
  • Transcribed 15+ mock proceedings to build speed and accuracy skills
  • Assisted with transcript preparation and proofreading for 30+ cases
  • Gained experience with Eclipse CAT software for transcript production

Administrative Assistant – Jacobson Law Group, San Diego, CA (May 2022 – December 2022)

  • Scheduled depositions and coordinated with court reporting agencies
  • Organized case files and maintained document database for legal team
  • Developed familiarity with legal terminology and procedures

EDUCATION

Associate of Applied Science in Court Reporting – San Diego Community College, San Diego, CA

Graduated: May 2022 | GPA: 3.8/4.0

  • Coursework: Machine Shorthand Theory, Court Reporting Procedures, Legal Terminology, Medical Terminology, Transcript Preparation
  • Achieved 225 WPM certification speed in final semester (required: 200 WPM)

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Certified Court Reporter (CCR), California Court Reporters Board, September 2022
  • Notary Public, State of California, November 2022

SKILLS

  • Stenotype Machine Proficiency (225+ WPM)
  • Real-time Reporting
  • Eclipse CAT Software
  • StenoCAT Software
  • Legal Terminology
  • Medical Terminology
  • Transcript Preparation
  • Active Listening
  • Attention to Detail
  • Time Management

Mid-level Court Reporter Resume Example

Melissa J. Grantham

Chicago, IL 60607 • (312) 555-9127 • mjgrantham@emaildomain.com • linkedin.com/in/melissagrantham

Certified court reporter with 5+ years documenting legal proceedings with exceptional accuracy and attention to detail. Skilled in realtime reporting, transcription, and legal terminology with a proven track record of meeting strict deadlines in high-pressure environments. Known for maintaining composure during complex testimonies and producing error-free transcripts for high-stakes cases.

EXPERIENCE

Senior Court Reporter – Cook County Circuit Court, Chicago, IL
March 2021 – Present

  • Record and transcribe verbatim proceedings for felony criminal cases and complex civil litigation matters, maintaining 98.7% accuracy rates
  • Prepare daily transcripts for high-profile cases, often delivering within 2-3 hours of proceedings
  • Provide realtime reporting services for judges and attorneys during trial proceedings
  • Manage transcript requests from attorneys, judges, and members of the public, tracking over 175 requests annually
  • Mentor 2 junior court reporters on technical equipment operation and court protocols

Court Reporter – Reliable Reporting Services, Chicago, IL
June 2019 – February 2021

  • Recorded depositions, arbitrations, and administrative hearings for 40+ law firms throughout the Chicago metro area
  • Transcribed over 3,200 pages of testimony monthly with consistent accuracy
  • Handled scheduling, confirmation calls, and travel logistics for off-site assignments
  • Developed expertise in medical terminology while working on personal injury and medical malpractice cases

Freelance Court Reporter – Self-employed, Chicago, IL
August 2018 – June 2019

  • Provided court reporting services for depositions, hearings, and business meetings
  • Built client base of 8 regular law firms through networking and referrals
  • Managed all aspects of business including scheduling, billing, and transcript production

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION

Associate of Applied Science in Court Reporting
MacCormac College, Chicago, IL – 2018

Registered Professional Reporter (RPR)
National Court Reporters Association – 2019

Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR)
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation – 2019

SKILLS

  • Stenotype Machine Proficiency (230+ WPM)
  • Realtime Reporting
  • Legal Terminology
  • Medical Terminology
  • Case CATalyst Software
  • Eclipse CAT Software
  • Transcript Preparation
  • Audio Recording Equipment
  • Proofreading & Editing
  • Time Management
  • Conflict Resolution

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)
Illinois Court Reporters Association (ICRA)

Senior / Experienced Court Reporter Resume Example

Patricia N. Westbrook

Austin, TX | (512) 443-8765 | p.westbrook@emailpro.net | linkedin.com/in/patriciawestbrook

Certified Court Reporter with 11 years of experience in high-volume judicial environments. Known for exceptional accuracy (99.7%) and speed (240+ wpm), with specialized expertise in complex medical testimony and technical litigation. Proven track record maintaining composure during intense proceedings while delivering precise, timely transcripts. Mentor to junior reporters in Travis County judicial system.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Court Reporter | Travis County District Court | Austin, TX | May 2018 – Present

  • Record and transcribe over 175 proceedings annually including high-profile criminal trials, civil litigation, and grand jury sessions with 100% on-time delivery
  • Produce verbatim transcripts for 12 judges, maintaining strict confidentiality and adhering to court protocols
  • Developed streamlined transcript indexing system that reduced document retrieval time by 34%
  • Trained and mentored 7 junior court reporters, 5 of whom received certification within their first year
  • Manage digital evidence presentation during trials, coordinating with attorneys to ensure smooth proceedings

Court Reporter | Williamson County Circuit Court | Georgetown, TX | June 2014 – April 2018

  • Recorded and transcribed over 800 depositions, hearings, and trials with 99.5% accuracy rate
  • Created real-time transcription capabilities for ADA accommodation, earning recognition from the Texas Court Reporters Association
  • Collaborated with attorneys and legal teams to schedule proceedings and deliver rush transcripts (sometimes overnight)
  • Maintained and secured all official records in compliance with state recordkeeping requirements

Court Reporting Intern, then Junior Reporter | Lone Star Reporting Services | Austin, TX | January 2012 – May 2014

  • Assisted senior reporters with transcript preparation and editing while building stenography speed
  • Transcribed 200+ hours of recorded testimony during internship period
  • Handled scheduling and client communication for team of 5 reporters

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Associate of Applied Science, Court Reporting
Austin Community College | Austin, TX | 2012

Certifications:

  • Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) – National Court Reporters Association | 2014
  • Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR) – National Court Reporters Association | 2017
  • Texas Certified Shorthand Reporter (CSR) | 2013
  • Certificate in Medical Terminology for Court Reporters | 2016

TECHNICAL SKILLS

  • Stenograph Luminex II with Case CATalyst software
  • Eclipse CAT software
  • LiveNote real-time transcription
  • Digital audio recording systems
  • YesLaw transcript repository
  • Legal and medical terminology
  • MS Office Suite & legal document formatting
  • Audio enhancement techniques
  • Evidence presentation systems

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Texas Court Reporters Association (TCRA) – Board Member, 2020-2022
  • National Court Reporters Association (NCRA)
  • Austin Legal Professionals Association

How to Write a Court Reporter Resume

Introduction

Court reporters play a crucial role in our legal system, creating verbatim transcripts of everything from depositions to full trials. Your resume needs to demonstrate your technical skills, attention to detail, and understanding of legal proceedings. I've helped hundreds of court reporters land jobs at courts, law firms, and freelance agencies over my 15+ years as a resume writer. Let me show you how to create a resume that showcases your stenography expertise and gets you interviews.

Resume Structure and Format

Court reporting is all about precision, and your resume should reflect that same level of care. Keep these formatting guidelines in mind:

  • Stick to 1-2 pages (one page for those with under 5 years of experience)
  • Use clean, readable fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman in 10-12pt size
  • Include clear section headings (Experience, Education, Certifications, Skills)
  • Maintain consistent formatting throughout (same bullet style, heading size, etc.)
  • Use reverse chronological order for your work history
  • Leave plenty of white space – cramped text suggests poor organization
Pro Tip: Court administrators and hiring managers spend just 7.4 seconds scanning a resume on first review. Make those seconds count with a clean, scannable layout that puts your most impressive qualifications front and center.

Profile/Summary Section

Your professional summary should immediately signal your stenography speed, certifications, and specialization areas. This 3-4 line opener sets the tone for everything that follows.

Example: "Certified Court Reporter with 6+ years of experience in criminal proceedings and depositions. Consistently transcribe at 225+ WPM with 98.7% accuracy. Proficient with Eclipse CAT software and real-time reporting. Known for maintaining composure during complex medical testimony and multi-speaker scenarios."

Professional Experience

This is where you'll shine! For each position, include:

  • Company/court name, location, and dates of employment
  • Your specific title (Official Court Reporter, Freelance Reporter, etc.)
  • 4-6 bullet points highlighting your responsibilities and achievements
  • Specific metrics where possible (pages transcribed, turnaround times, accuracy rates)
  • Types of proceedings covered (felony trials, civil cases, depositions)

Start each bullet with a strong action verb like "transcribed," "produced," "delivered," or "maintained." Focus on both your technical abilities and soft skills like confidentiality, deadline management, and attention to detail.

Education and Certifications

Court reporting is a credential-heavy field. List all relevant certifications with their issuing organizations and dates:

  • Registered Professional Reporter (RPR)
  • Certified Realtime Reporter (CRR)
  • Certified CART Provider (CCP)
  • State-specific certifications
  • Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Court Reporting
  • Specialized training (medical terminology, legal proceedings)

Keywords and ATS Tips

Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems to screen resumes before human eyes ever see them. Include these keywords to get past the digital gatekeepers:

  • Stenography / stenotype / stenographic reporting
  • Realtime reporting / CART services
  • Words per minute (WPM) rates
  • Specific CAT software names (StenoCAT, Eclipse, Case CATalyst)
  • Legal terminology / medical terminology
  • Certification abbreviations (RPR, RMR, CRR)

Industry-specific Terms

Pepper your resume with relevant court reporting terminology that shows you know the field:

  • Voir dire proceedings
  • Scopist collaboration
  • Exhibit marking and indexing
  • Rough draft transcripts
  • Daily copy services
  • Verbatim reporting

Common Mistakes to Avoid

After reviewing thousands of court reporter resumes, I've seen these errors trip up even experienced professionals:

  • Failing to specify your WPM speed and accuracy rate
  • Omitting software proficiencies
  • Being vague about types of proceedings covered
  • Typos or grammar errors (absolute resume killers in this field!)
  • Not highlighting rush transcript experience
  • Forgetting to mention experience with technical or specialized vocabulary

Before/After Example

Before: "Responsible for creating transcripts for court proceedings."

After: "Produced verbatim transcripts for 187 felony trials and 250+ motion hearings, delivering 98% of final transcripts within 5 business

days. Maintained 99.2% accuracy rate as measured in quarterly audits."

The difference? Specificity and measurable achievements that showcase both technical skill and reliability—exactly what court administrators and law firms look for when hiring reporters.

Soft skills for your Court Reporter resume

  • Active listening with sustained focus during lengthy proceedings (maintained 98% accuracy during a 6-hour medical malpractice trial)
  • Calm under pressure while managing rapid dialogue and maintaining verbatim records
  • Confidentiality and discretion when handling sensitive legal information (including sealed juvenile cases)
  • Time management – juggling transcript preparation deadlines while maintaining courtroom responsibilities
  • Interpersonal tact when requesting clarification from judges, attorneys, and witnesses
  • Adaptability to different court environments and procedural variations across jurisdictions

Hard skills for your Court Reporter resume

  • Stenography at 225+ WPM with 98% accuracy using Stenograph Luminex II
  • Realtime captioning using Case CATalyst v21 and Eclipse 8
  • Digital audio recording with FTR Gold and For The Record software
  • Transcript production and formatting in Word and PDF following state-specific standards
  • Legal terminology mastery in criminal, civil, and family court proceedings
  • Voice writing using Dragon speech recognition technology
  • Knowledge of NCRA ethics guidelines and court reporting procedures
  • Experience with LiveLitigation and Zoom for remote depositions
  • Certified Court Reporter (CCR) and Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) credentials