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Court reporter skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

David Faldet

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical court reporter skills. We ranked the top skills for court reporters based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 12.7% of court reporter resumes contained transcription as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a court reporter needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 court reporter skills for your resume and career

1. Transcription

Here's how court reporters use transcription:

Utilized computer-aided or manual transcription to prepare transcripts in accordance with prescribed formats and deadlines.
Read back testimony instantly upon request, utilizing the latest in computer-aided transcription software.

2. Court Proceedings

Here's how court reporters use court proceedings:

Transcribed verbatim dialogue on computerized CAT system at depositions and various court proceedings and painstakingly prepared into notarized, flawless transcripts.
Reported all criminal/civil court proceedings, using real-time technology, requiring advanced knowledge of medical and legal terminology.

3. Legal Terminology

Here's how court reporters use legal terminology:

Have sufficient knowledge in medical and legal terminology.
Gained expertise in medical and legal terminology, procedures and related details.

4. District Court

Here's how court reporters use district court:

Wrote/recorded preliminary hearings of criminal matters throughout the District Court system of Bucks County as well as civil deposition work.
Coordinated with the US District Court to process charges, case numbers, serve subpoenas, and obtain documentation.

5. Technical Terminology

Here's how court reporters use technical terminology:

Used proper English usage, grammar, punctuation, and spelling, including legal, medical and technical terminology.
Used knowledge of legal, medical, and technical terminology to ensure delivery of professional transcripts.

6. Litigation

Here's how court reporters use litigation:

Recorded depositions covering employment, medical, pharmaceutical, environmental, and business litigation matters.
Reported countless depositions and proceedings involving sworn statements to complex pharmaceutical/malpractice litigation.

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7. Legal Proceedings

Legal proceedings are official court hearings on a case where two parties debate to settle a matter under a judge or jury's supervision. There are different types of court proceedings, including a review hearing, cause hearing, bond hearing, final pre-trial status conference, trial, and a jury trial. Essentially, these proceedings help settle a dispute or case lawfully.

Here's how court reporters use legal proceedings:

Transcribe records of legal proceedings and prepare and/or supervise preparation of summarized or verbatim transcripts.
Transcribed legal proceedings and depositions in line with accuracy and efficiency standards.

8. Courtroom Proceedings

Here's how court reporters use courtroom proceedings:

Court reporting duties included taking verbatim testimony in courtroom proceedings.
Attend courtroom proceedings and other proceedings to make verbatim official recordings and to record formal and/or informal meetings.

9. Court Sessions

Here's how court reporters use court sessions:

File and store court reporter worksheets and notes of court sessions in accordance with the office standard operating procedure.
Transcribed and translated meetings and recorded court sessions with the use of a stenographic machine.

10. Medical Terminology

Here's how court reporters use medical terminology:

Position requires knowledge of medical terminology and procedures.
Job requires excellent typing and computer skills as well as extensive experience in legal and medical terminology.

11. Office Equipment

Here's how court reporters use office equipment:

Maintained accountability for over 50,000 dollars in automation and office equipment.
Used office equipment such as computers, copiers and fax machines.

12. Court Hearings

Here's how court reporters use court hearings:

Transcribe prerecorded testimony of bankruptcy court hearings requested by attorneys and court administration.
Reported and transcribed court hearings using computer aided software, produced transcripts upon request, handled all billing for job assignments.

13. WPM

WPM means words per minute, the average number of characters that a comment contains, which can also be referred to as keystrokes, against the time that person takes in keying them into the device. Mostly professional typists would type at a speed of 50 or 80 words per minute.

Here's how court reporters use wpm:

Recorded verbatim testimony in deposition and courtroom settings at speeds exceeding 230 WPM effectively.
Operated shorthand machine at 200 wpm at depositions, trials, hearings, coroners' inquests and recorded statements.

14. Transcribing

Transcribing is the primary skill of a transcriptionist. It is the process of translating audio or visual materials into written forms, ensuring accuracy in every word. In some projects, a transcriptionist may also write down and describe gestures.

Here's how court reporters use transcribing:

Performed court reporting duties in court cases and civil depositions including recording and transcribing testimony and production of final transcripts.
Performed court reporting duties, including editing, proofing, and transcribing criminal and civil testimony for depositions

15. Criminal Cases

A criminal case is a court proceeding in which a person is charged with committing a crime against the state or the community. Such individuals are brought for trials, to decide they are guilty or not. There are two kinds of criminal cases misdemeanors and felonies. A misdemeanor is a crime on a lower level like traffic offenses or minor assaults. While felonies are offenses on a higher level.

Here's how court reporters use criminal cases:

Record and note take all indictment and investigation proceedings for Federal criminal cases.
Report on noteworthy criminal cases and civil lawsuits in Daviess Circuit Court, including trials and motions.

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What skills help Court Reporters find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What type of skills will young court reporters need?

David Faldet

Professor, Luther College

Those college years of reading, writing, and discussing literature mean English majors have three skills business leaders want: creativity, the ability to communicate well, and the empathy that can set a person or a business apart. Creativity is crucial in a time of change such as this one, and as employers look to transform their business model. Good communication is basic within a business and in reaching out to the market. Empathy is there to make sure communication matters and reaches a receptive audience.

Do you want to know more?

List of court reporter skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a court reporter resume and required skills for a court reporter to have include:

Transcription
Court Proceedings
Legal Terminology
District Court
Technical Terminology
Litigation
Legal Proceedings
Courtroom Proceedings
Court Sessions
Medical Terminology
Office Equipment
Court Hearings
WPM
Transcribing
Criminal Cases
Grand Jury

Law Firm
Notary
Oath
Court Calendar
Administrative Hearings
Criminal Trials
Verbatim Transcripts
Family Law
Court Orders
Arbitration
Court System
Computer System
Audio Recordings
Circuit Court
Dragon
Transcript Production

Court Officials
Law Enforcement
Court Cases
Court Trials
Medical Malpractice
Criminal Court
Civil Cases
Court Transcripts
FTR
Public Hearings
PowerPoint
Audio Equipment
Probate
Deposition Transcripts
Civil Litigation

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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