If you are one who desires to begin a career in court reporting Tucson AZ, it might be helpful to acknowledge skills you may already possess. Naturally, there are training courses and certifications that will help you perfect this type of position. Couple formal training with the following four transferable skills, and you could be well on your way to working in this field. This is not an exhaustive list; other skills can help you become one of the most in-demand court reporters in the city.
Detailed Accuracy The nature of the job demands that court reports strive for accuracy. One misplaced word could change the meaning of an interpreted law entirely. If you are a detail-oriented person, this skill should come naturally. The finer points of operating a stenograph machine, grammar and transcription should also become your primary focus.Equally important is showing up on time in professional attire. If you are easily stressed out, this might not be the best career for you. Good Grammar SkillsGood grammar skills are a must since a majority of what you do will be punctuating what other people say. Generally, you will spend nearly as much time proofing and punctuate transcripts as you spend in court or in a deposition. As a good court reporter with excellent grammar skills, you will also use shorter sentences to convey what was said.
More periods than commas are applicable when transcribing a legal matter. Strive for Excellence Striving for excellence is different from trying to be a perfectionist. Mistakes will happen as long as you are human. However, your excellence comes from being a good listener and having the ability to focus for extended periods of time.Simply avoid having an unhealthy sense of perfectionism. This could actually hinder your performance as a court reporter. If you become too focused on not making a mistake, you will make a mistake.
Diligent Effort This is a continuation of working towards excellence in your duties. Diligence and hard work are expected of court reporters. If you have always been the type of person who consistently works toward a goal, ignoring distractions, you have what it takes to persevere in this field.Fortunately, these four skills are not innate; anyone can learn these skills as they work towards this career. If you come already prepared, your learning curve is shorter. If not, you can still become a court reporter and reap the benefits of working in this area of the legal profession.