5 Lessons That Are Not Taught in Court Reporting School

By: Colleen Jilio-Ryan | Posted in: court reporting

The next wave of court reporters need to think about the lessons already learned from history. Court reporting is a job that is always in demand and the better you are at it, the more money you can make. That’s why it’s a job worth pursuing if you avoid the pitfalls.

Here are five lessons to explore more deeply that you won’t find in typical manuals or school lectures.

1. Be Careful When Wearing a White Suit
   The irony of wearing a white suit is that ideally it presents a very clean look, yet white is the easiest material to get dirty. White can look very dirty just from sitting in a dusty room. Dirty looking suits can send the wrong subconscious messages.

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2. Avoid Steno Note Disasters
   Never forget where you set your paper steno notes down, which can sometimes wind up in unusual places. Sometimes steno notes can get scattered by accident as disorganization can present plenty of confusion.

3. Prepare Your Trips
   When planning an out of town deposition, it helps to print a copy of the directions if you do not have GPS in your car. The clearer you are on the directions, the more likely you will not get lost or be late for the assignment.

4. Don’t Carry Too Many Things at Once
   When you are transporting equipment, avoid trying to carry too many items at once, especially if you are dealing with expensive equipment. Always take extra care to make sure the equipment is safely transported.

5. Never Be Late
   All court reporters understand that being late is usually a major strike against credibility that could affect future opportunities. Being late to a deposition is not only embarrassing, it causes inconveniences for all parties involved, which becomes hard to forget or forgive.

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