Preparing accurate transcripts of court proceedings takes concentration and a relentless ear for detail. It also entails a great deal of training, which can be had through a technical school or the National Court Reporters Association. Some states require court reporters to be licensed, though no degree is required.
Germaine Fleet has been a court reporter for more than 30 years. "I totally love it," she says. "The topics are very interesting, especially if you like the criminal cases. Divorces are also interesting, but civil cases can be a little bit boring, and then you might get a patent case and you don't like listening but you have to do it anyway," she says.
The real challenge, according to Fleet, is learning to type at a breakneck pace. Most court reporters transcribe 250 words per minute, a far cry from the average person's 30-40. "The hard part is building up enough speed," she says.
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