National Court Reporter Shortage Prompts Event About “Best Job You’ve Never Heard Of” – Court Reporter Trainee

1. How much of an effect is this court reporter shortage having on the courts in Staten Island?

We are waiting for the Office of Court Administration’s response on the specific effects on Staten Island courts. We do know that it is having effects on every court throughout the state, but are hoping to get specific Staten Island data for you shortly. (The response will be provided shortly) 

2-Is this shortage more pronounced in state and municipal courts, or is it equally difficult to attract court reporters in the federal court system?

Karen Santucci, Program Director at Plaza College’s Court Reporting Program: “This shortage affects all court systems, not even just here in New York but on a national level as well. In fact, last year the federal courthouses in New York held open houses to attract applicants who can fill these positions. The process of becoming a court reporter for the federal court system is a bit more complicated than it is for the state and municipal courts because the federal system has more stringent requirements for their court reporters. Applicants must have four years of work experience and need to have obtained Registered Professional Reporter (RPR) certification from the National Court Reporters Association (NCRA). But this shortage is felt across the board.”

3- Have they done any student or general population surveys to find out why this field is not attractive to students, perhaps leading to improvements in the field?  Reasons could include, but would not be limited to, salary, time off or lack thereof, perception of difficulty in learning a new language (shorthand), etc. 

Karen Santucci, Program Director at Plaza College’s Court Reporting Program: “The problem doesn’t lie with people’s apprehensions about stenography as much as it does with people just not becoming aware of this as a profession. When I was young, schools held career days where you learned about a variety of jobs. In fact, that’s how I first heard about becoming a court reporter. But in the last decade or so, there has been a noticeable shift towards guidance counselors pushing students into a traditional four-year degree program. Court reporting programs are seen as trade schools that don’t offer the “traditional college experience.” So, what happens is that when students come to us, they have a bachelor’s degree and no job.

Luckily, social media has been beneficial in breaking through to young people and getting them interested in court reporting at an earlier stage. Plaza College holds free introductory A to Z classes throughout the year that are specifically designed to let potential students experience the steno alphabet and phonetic keyboard for free before enrolling in a degree program. Half of the students enrolled in our latest A to Z session heard about the program on TikTok, and those who hear about it are eager to learn more.”

In an effort to combat an ongoing national court reporter shortage, representatives from the New York State Unified Court System, professional court reporters, captioners and their unions, along with educators from Forest Hills-based Plaza College, came together to shine a light on “the best job you’ve never heard of.”

To expand this limited worker pool in such a vital profession, which has been impacted by increased retirement rates, the New York State Unified Court System announced a brand-new position called the Court Reporter Trainee, with an almost $78,000 starting salary. A Senior Court Reporter in New York currently earns $102,000 annually.

In most jurisdictions across the nation, no trial can take place without a court reporter. They are essential officers of the court, capturing the definitive record of all court proceedings, marking exhibits, and creating the official transcripts that are a critical consideration in jury deliberations, appeals, and more.To expand this limited worker pool, which has been impacted by increased retirement rates, the New York State Unified Court System announced a brand-new position called the Court Reporter Trainee, with an almost $78,000 starting salary. “Students with a certification can come out of school and right into the court system to begin their career,” explained Christy Bass, Director of Human Resources for the New York State Office of Court Administration.

The one-year traineeship allows for new court reporters, who have graduated from a recognized court reporting program, to practice their trade under the direct supervision of a supervisory court reporter and the general supervision of other court managers. Upon completion of the program, trainees become a full-time court reporter with a current salary of over $86,000, with all of the promotional opportunities and professional benefits the position provides.

A Senior Court Reporter currently earns over $102,000. “Court reporters serve a crucial role in the New York State Courts,” Bass continued.

“In every courtroom, their presence is indispensable, guaranteeing that every statement is accurately recorded. They are crucial to the standards and the fairness of our judicial system. We’re grateful to have them and want more people to become aware of this rewarding and valuable career.”

Karen Santucci, Court Reporting Program Director at Plaza College, the only court reporting school in New York City, added, “Court reporters are not only vital to the system of justice, but they also work very closely with the hearing impaired.

“In recent years, stenographers have taken on a critical role in creating equal access to information among those with hearing and cognitive impairments. These highly skilled professionals have become an integral component of live events, online course offerings and meetings, classrooms, and even the halls of Congress, as elected representatives like Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman rely on accurate, real-time captions to conduct the nation’s most important business.

“This is one of the best careers nobody knows about, and it has allowed me to travel the world, to support a family,” said Reid Goldsmith, President of the New York State Court Reporters Association (NYS-CRA) and an adjunct professor at Plaza College.

“The students embarking on this journey have chosen a field that plays a crucial role in ensuring accuracy and transparency within our legal system. They are essential to the administration of justice, and the skills they develop will be vital to maintaining the integrity of court records and ensuring effective communications in diverse settings.

”In order to graduate from a court reporting program, students must be able to write at a minimum of 225 words per minute with 95 percent accuracy, utilizing the 22-key stenographic keyboard, which is used to capture words phonetically. Plaza College court reporting classes are held virtually, opening access to students from across the country.