Huseby Inc. Court Reporting Blog | Nationwide Court Reporters

The education that court reporters receive is rough. We know because we’ve been through it and we found ways to deal with the pressures of school.

Get the Support of Others

Share your feelings with other student court reporters. You’ll find they are struggling with the same issues and knowing you’re not alone can help. You can provide each other with tips on handling the difficult work or building your speed.

It’s even better to watch current court reporters practice the profession. Huseby has reporters all over the country and we may be able to find one in your area who will let you watch them take legal depositions or provide close captioning. If our court reporting agency can’t help you, try another one or go observe public proceedings to see how the court stenographer handles situations as they arise.

When listening to others, reject anything that makes you feel negative. Students who are struggling can be helpful allies but students who have given up will drag you down and make it harder. Don’t be intimidated by the high dropout rate at court reporting schools because other people’s failure has no bearing on your ability to succeed.

How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall? Practice.

Every skilled professional was once an insecure student, stumbling along trying to learn the skills. The best court reporters around today were once slow and unsure of their abilities. The more you do the work, the faster and surer you will become.

There are two reasons it is better to practice in short sittings every single day than to do long sessions once or twice a week. First, our minds pick up skills better if we use them often. By scheduling daily sessions you will find your speed and accuracy improving more quickly than if you practice less often, even if you get the same number of hours per week.

Second, momentum is a powerful motivator. When you set a schedule you no longer have to face the decision of whether or not to practice today. Soon you won’t even be thinking about it as you automatically sit down at your machine at the scheduled time.

Stay Healthy

Stress comes from many sources and court reporting classes add to the normal pressures we deal with every day. It is impossible to control the stress in our lives but if we keep our bodies fit and healthy, stress is less of a problem.

There are three components to a healthy, stress-resistant body: exercise, eat right, and get plenty of sleep. It really is that simple. Exercise is the most powerful of these because not only does it keep us fit but it gives us a positive outlet for the energies that stress creates in us.

By following these simple steps, you’ll enjoy a solid start along your path to a career as a certified court reporter!