FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Veritext Legal Solutions Works to Increase Interest in Court Reporting Careers
Concerned that the dramatic decrease in court reporters will stymie the legal industry, Veritext pushes to reach more students, millennials and individuals considering career change
October 30, 2018, Atlanta, GA – Veritext Legal Solutions is working with the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA) and the Georgia Court Reporters Association (GCRA) to help fill a critical shortfall in the number of individuals entering the profession of legal court reporting. Veritext is helping present across the United States the NCRA’s A to Z™ Program, which is taught by volunteer court reporters and gives participants the opportunity to learn about the profession before deciding to pursue an education in court reporting and captioning. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to receive tuition assistance and scholarships from industry partners. Veritext and the GCRA are hosting an A to Z™ Program this fall in Atlanta.
In 2014, Ducker Worldwide published the “Court Reporting Industry Outlook Report” and in it predicted that demand for court reporters would exceed supply within five years. “Ducker’s predicted shortfall has come to pass already,” said Andy Fredericks, Director of Reporter Engagement at Veritext. “In 2018, more court reporters are leaving the profession – mostly through retirement – than new professionals are joining the field. We see this shortage every day at Veritext and feel strongly that the industry needs our help to raise awareness for this profession and fill the thousands of open court reporting positions. If we don’t act, this shortage has the potential to stymie the legal process in the United States.”
Court reporters provide an integral and necessary service to the U.S. legal system. As dedicated custodians of the record, court reporters rely on a highly refined set of skills to accomplish the task of capturing the spoken word in real time. The NCRA’s A to Z Program introduces this profession and the rewarding career opportunities, job security and flexibility it offers to interested new individuals.
“There is a shortage of workers in the skilled trades across the United States, and court reporting is no different,” continued Fredericks. “What students today need to understand is that this profession requires only a two-year degree and graduates of court reporting programs will start making approximately $50,000 right out of school and have the potential to make a six-figure income. They will also enjoy significant flexibility with their schedule and the opportunity for regional and national travel.”
Participants in the NCRA’s A to Z Program receive an introduction to the machine shorthand keyboard and learn how to write simple words in steno through hands-on instruction from experienced court reporters. Additionally, they gain a firsthand perspective on the day-to-day life of a reporter and the opportunities and benefits of a career in court reporting.
The Veritext/GCRA A to Z Program in Atlanta, which runs from October 28 through December 9, will be held at the Veritext Atlanta office and co-taught by Matthew Moss, RPR and president of the GCRA, and Marcia Arberman, RPR.
Also, as part of Veritext’s effort to revitalize and energize the court reporting field, Rosalie Kramm of Kramm Court Reporting, a Veritext Company in San Diego, is presenting court reporting to five classes at San Marcos High School in San Diego County and will demonstrate real-time court reporting for law students at the University of San Diego School of Law. In addition, Veritext has created a free 0.1 credit CEU entitled “A Collaborative Effort: Investing in the future of our profession.” This session seeks to reinvigorate the court reporting profession by highlighting current industry initiatives to create awareness of the profession and inspire the current community to promote, mentor and nurture the next generation of legal stenographers.
“Veritext is strongly committed to achieving significant progress towards strengthening and advancing the wonderful profession of court reporting,” Kramm said. “We believe that inspiring and educating the next generation is vital to the continued success of the industry. We are dedicated to raising awareness through partnerships and collaboration with national, state and educational organizations.”
To learn more about these programs, visit www.veritext.com/partner-community or email: Andy Fredericks or courtreporter@veritext.com.
About Veritext Legal Solutions
Veritext is the leader in deposition and litigation support solutions. For law firms and corporations, the company provides national coverage, state-of-the-art facilities, highly skilled reporters, advanced technology and unmatched client serviced. Our solutions utilize the latest easy-to-use technologies that streamline the deposition process, enhance delivery flexibility and reliably handle the most complex cases. Proprietary video, mobile and remote services combined with unmatched security, including HIPAA and PII compliance, ensure that Veritext clients have the best tools available and the confidence of working with the market leader. More information can be found at www.veritext.com.
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