Court Reporter Proofreading – How To Get Started in 2023!

If you are wondering how to start court reporter proofreading, then you have come to the right place 🙂

Do you have a passion for proofreading or an interest in the legal field but are unsure which career to pursue?

With the number of jobs and side hustles that are coming up every day, it is understandable that you are confused. 

Worry not, because this article will serve as a complete guide on how to start court reporter proofreading. 

One of the best earning options for proofreaders is proofreading for court reporters. 

Basically, the job requires a sharp eye and a little bit of legal jargon that goes beyond the basics. Let’s get on with this guide!

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Court Reporter Proofreading – A Complete Guide

What Is Court Reporter Proofreading?

A court reporter proofreader is someone who serves as a second pair of eyes, analyzing for context and reliability, spotting those absent words, overlooked or incorrectly stated words.

As a specialized area of transcription, court transcription proofreading involves reviewing legal transcripts.

In a courtroom, a lawyer will use a stenographer to quickly record verbatim notes.

Affidavits, claims, testimony, depositions, and other things may be included in the document to be proofread. A court reporter converts the stenographer’s brief writer into a text that can be read.

It may be necessary to repair typos and other problems in the court reporter’s text. The reporter may review the paper themselves, but occasionally they become so overworked that they are unable to recognize errors and make the necessary revisions. 

The text is then sent back to the attorneys after being carefully and error-free proofread by a court-appointed professional.

How To Start Court Reporter Proofreading?

Legal transcription takes two to four years to learn, and court transcriptionists are also referred to as court reporters. They practice typing at a rapid rate, more than 180 words every minute.

Compared to other typing-related jobs, which may be completed at a speed of around 50 wpm, you have got to triple up the speed for court transcript proofreader jobs. 

There are certificates issued by national court reporting groups, which have their own standards for accuracy and passing scores.

Finding your way through legal materials might be difficult if you lack formal knowledge.

Fortunately for you, freelancers can learn specialized and competitive proofreading through online courses.

Anyone with a graduate degree or only a high school diploma can become a proficient proofreader with consistent effort and focused attention.

Simply put, having more credentials and subject-specific knowledge might be beneficial in specific fields within courter reporter proofreading but if you’re just starting, some basic skills would do.

For instance, when it comes to transcript proofreading, having legal experience might be a huge advantage. 

However, there are some things that can really aid in the development of your court transcript proofreader journey, such as:

1. A degree qualification is beneficial although there are no official degree requirements for this industry. 

2. Enrolling in certificate-granting courses or apprenticeships in both law and proofreading can be worthwhile.

3. For independent contractors, online courses allow specializing in competitive proofreading. Additionally, it helps you find clients so you may start a freelance proofreading career.

4. Without the qualifications, getting there can be tricky. The certifications provide the support that can make the journey much easier. Although it is not required, it lends credibility and a genuine stamp to your work, which can draw in a lot of additional customers. 

5. You can begin by performing freelancing tasks that can be added to your portfolio.

6. Start applying for court transcript proofreader jobs at platforms like Indeed and Simply Hired. There are excellent odds of receiving your opportunities despite being a beginner because you have a résumé that demonstrates competence. 

7. Expanding your reach and increasing your potential to get new clients is possible by promoting yourself in proofreading groups, and across social media platforms.

How Does Court Reporter Proofreading Work?

1. In a legal setting, a stenographer is employed by an attorney to record exact transcriptions. The document may also contain things like affidavit statements and depositions.

2. A scopist or a court reporter will next translate the stenographer’s shorthand output into a text that can be read.

3. Any discrepancies, errors, and inaccuracies will be addressed.

4. A court proofreader is then employed to verify the accuracy of the documents prior to sending the files back to the lawyers. 

How To Find Court Reporter Proofreading Jobs?

You may find it simple to obtain court proofreading employment if you have experience working as a freelancer. The idea is that everything you’ve accomplished in the industry, in addition to your credentials and resume, makes the work easier.

Start by subscribing to groups, clubs, or organizations for proofreaders to promote your services as a legal transcript proofreader.

Joining social media networking groups and pages is an excellent place to start. As you take on entry-level work and advance in the ranks, such platforms assist in establishing your portfolio. 

The groups below can help you get started!

• Proofreader Needed Today

• Job Board – Steno/Voice Reporters, CAT Scopists

• Proofreaders Group

FAQs on Court Reporter Proofreading

How Do I Become A Transcript Proofreader?

So, how do I become a transcript proofreader?

There are certification programs that can help you obtain court reporter proofreading jobs. Given that legal transcribing is a specialized area of transcription, having this qualification can provide you an advantage over other candidates.

Certification Courses

1. Caitlin Pyle’s Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice

If you are serious about proofreading transcripts for court reporters, then start with this course on being a proofreader. 

They offer free beginner classes and workshops so you may learn more about that topic. You are obligated by the course to push yourself to look for minute details and omitted information in the transcript.

Worksheets, tests, and ongoing grammar method studies help you focus better and are more engaging. Additionally, they offer potential customers transcript editing services.

2. National Court Reporters Association Certification

This is a US organization dedicated to improving court reporting and associated professions.

It can be simpler to apply for a position as a court proofreader with an NCRA license. It influences governmental concerns and the world economy and is widely acknowledged.

If you want to know how to be a court reporter, start with this site. 

Being an associate of the organization gives you access to the newest innovations that are used in the industry and integration into an exceptionally qualified society of well-equipped experts.

3. Internet Scoping School

This course is another recognized qualification in the field. They carry out a complete and efficient training program and prepare the students to develop successful careers. 

The training improves and supports freelancers who work from home and finds them jobs online.

These 3 courses are enough for you to get started but if you would like to explore other options, read this article on 11 Proofreading Courses Online In 2023 (Personal Experience!).

Equipment And Tools

Despite the irony, there are several factors that can enhance the transcript proofreading services and speed up your career progress. 

The first are books and online resources. 

Books are a never-ending source of information and are constantly accessible for use as a reference. Search for books on punctuation, basic editing skills, and grammar. Here are some recommendations:

• McGraw-Hill’s Proofreading Handbook – Laura Anderson

• Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing – Mignon Fogarty

• The Best Punctuation Book, Period by June Casagrande

The next category includes technology tools like a laptop, iPad, or smartphones that make working without them all but impossible.

Make sure to have a reliable internet connection that can speed up the job and make it more comfortable and convenient for you and your clients.

The foundation of this professional development is also clients and providing good customer service, just like in any other line of work.

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What Is The Difference Between A Scopist And A Proofreader?

Now, what is the difference between a scopist and a proofreader?

Let’s run through the flow of work of a scopist first. 

When a scopist receives a file, it has already been converted from steno notes into English. Scoping is essentially proofreading, but there are more issues to address as the document remains to be reviewed word for word. 

As a result, a scopist meticulously examines each word, punctuation, paragraphing, and interpreting steno notes as they run through a document. 

A scopist also corrects formatting faults and looks up typos as they go.

Once the scopist is done with the document, it is then sent to a proofreader. 

A proofreader checks it for any errors that may have been missed during the edit, such as typos, misspelled words, formatting problems, and punctuation.

A proofreader need to have a wide vocabulary and be able to tell apart homophones.  The document must be well-researched, tidy, and free of mistakes.

Sometimes a reporter will request that the proofreader listen to the audio file while checking it.  Proofreaders charge up to twice their standard amount for this type of service.

What Is Proofreading In Journalism?

Have you wondered what is proofreading in journalism?

Journalism writing is often used for conveying news along with additional factual data. Journalism can be defined more generally to include various sorts of writing that are published in newspapers and news websites.

One important thing to keep in mind is that an editor of a newspaper or magazine is typically someone who manages the general style and substance of a publication rather than someone who edits pieces directly.

Sub-editors are the proofreaders in this field, and they often mistakes and apply the publication’s corporate brand. 

How Much Does It Cost To Proofread 1000 Words?

So, how much does it cost to proofread 1000 words?

The cost of proofreading each word ranges from $0.014 to $0.019. That comes out to roughly $14 – $19 for every 1000 words. The return time, level of skill of the proofreader, and type of writing may all affect the rates.

According to Glassdoor, a legal proofreader takes home about $52,284 annually. 

Some jobs provide remote employment. You can find the highest salaries for proofreaders. 

Following the standard pricing, the charge may be increased depending on the urgency of the task and the number of additional pages. When related to a service fee, it’s crucial to have open lines of communication with your customers. 

Jobs that must be completed in a shorter period of time may incur extra per-page fees. Additionally, the transcripts that must be completed immediately during a trial can increase your pay.

Depending on how quickly the reporter needs you to proofread, you can increase your page rate.

How you conduct business and the level of your job both play a big part in keeping customers. You must act professionally and always keep the needs of your clients in mind.

Always perform your duties with the utmost diligence and efficiency because clients frequently stick around places where they feel more at ease to complete their work correctly.

Remember to provide value and keep in constant contact with your clients.

Well, I hope this article answers all your questions on court reporter proofreading. 

A career in proofreading court reporter transcripts can help you advance both personally and professionally. The training and courses make you a more effective and enhanced version of yourself.

Along with academic certificates, it improves your ability to focus and move quickly.

As you have probably already guessed, court proofreading demands a little bit more commitment than a profession as a regular proofreader. 

Although not all court reporters looking for proofreaders will require a certification, it definitely will help strengthen your portfolio. Start today, and you will be a transcript proofreader.

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