Are you a fan of courtroom dramas? Do you excel in communication and listening skills? If so, you might be interested in pursuing a career as a captioner and court reporter. This profession requires 2 years of post-secondary education and offers an average salary of $30.68 per hour. With a demand of approximately 2,100 professionals per province per year, there are plenty of opportunities in this field.

Captioner and Court Reporter Responsibilities

Captioners and court reporters are responsible for capturing every word spoken in a legal setting. They write machine shorthand at a minimum speed of 225 words per minute. Thanks to computer technology, shorthand notes are instantly translated into English text that can be displayed or printed. Their duties may vary depending on their specialization.

Court Reporters and Captioners Job Description

Court reporters specifically write verbatim transcripts of various legal proceedings, such as court trials and public hearings. They can also provide real-time verbatim reporting services upon request. On the other hand, live-event captioners translate shorthand notes or spoken words into text, often in real-time.

There are two types of captioners: CART providers, who deliver real-time captions in educational or corporate settings for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, and broadcast captioners, who provide live captions for television and internet programming, such as news broadcasts and sporting events.

Captioner and Court Reporter Skills and Duties

Captioners and court reporters usually work in urban environments, such as boardrooms, conference rooms, courts, or classrooms. Some professionals even have home offices. To succeed in this career, individuals should possess skills such as discretion, flexibility, excellent English language skills including a strong vocabulary and grammar expertise, attention to detail, time-management, interpersonal skills, physical and mental stamina, and excellent hearing.

If you enjoy working within clear rules and guidelines with minimal supervision, working with technology, learning about various subjects, and completing accurate work within set deadlines, a career as a captioner and court reporter might be the perfect fit for you.

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes associated with this profession include 1244.1, B214, 1251, and 12110.

In summary, being a captioner and court reporter allows you to play a crucial role in legal proceedings, capturing every word spoken and providing real-time captions for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. With proper education and training, you can embark on a rewarding career in this field.

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