FINGERS ON FIRE

To the average person, someone who can type over 100 words
per minute is considered to have fast fingers. For stenotype court reporters,
that’s a snail’s pace. Stenotypists, who type on a special shorthand keyboard,
must type more than 225 words per minute, accurately, on a regular basis to
perform their duties.

Some court reporters like a challenge, such as Mark
Klingsbury. The Houston-based court reporter has been in the profession for
more than 35 years, and has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records
since 1984 as the fastest court reporter in the world. He clocked in at 360
words per minute to achieve that title.

Recently Klingsbury competed in a realtime competition at
the National Court Reporters Association convention in New Orleans, where his
accuracy was over 99 percent. Realtime court reporters provide attorneys,
witnesses, and judges with a live feed of what they’re transcribing, which can
be useful in a complex trial setting, where a judge might need to review exactly
what was said before ruling on a motion. Not all court reporters are certified
to provide realtime services, but those who are can command a premium for their services.

He still wants to go faster. He told a reporter for WGNO that
he’s working to break 370 or 380 words per minute in the next few years, and
used his platform to bring attention to the need for court reporters. “There’s
a big demand.  There are jobs
everywhere.  Very highly paid too.  You can make between $60,000 and $70,000 in
your first year.  The money is good.  The job satisfaction is good.  The job is challenging, so not everyone can
do it, but that’s why we get paid so well,” he said.

Legal Media Experts
can provide a realtime court reporter for your deposition or hearing. Use our
online scheduling tool today or call 800-446-1387!