Freelance Vs. Official Court Reporting: Which Is Better?

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

The choice to be a freelance or official court reporter is solely up to the person performing the job. Each career has benefits and drawbacks that will determine whether or not it is right for the person’s needs. Both are extremely rewarding and can result in a long and very lucrative career.

Freelance Court Reporting
Freelance court reporters work on an “as needed” basis. This means they can have several jobs one week and nothing booked for the rest of the month. One of the benefits of being considered “freelance” is that you can pick up work within the court system on a substitute basis.

Another benefit is that you can work solely with the courts or you can choose to work only with attorneys taking depositions and other sworn statements. This work can be scarce at times, so it is best to circulate your name and resume to as many attorneys as possible.

Official Court Reporting
Choosing to be an official court reporter gives you both job security and a steady income. You would not have to worry about having any down time or searching for work if your regular attorneys retire or move away. Another benefit of working with the court is, once you are hired, you will be assigned to a specific court room and will be able to work with the same judge and other office personnel every day.

One of the biggest differences between freelance and official court reporting is that you work every day and must schedule for days off. It is also important to remember that if a jury is sequestered during a trial, you will also be forced to stay as well because you have been given sensitive information that cannot be released to the public.