Digital Court Reporting with Legal Transcription

The Digital Court Reporting with Legal Transcriptionist training course prepares you to enter the in-demand field of legal transcription with the skills and knowledge needed to be successful. Court reporters and legal transcriptionists are required to create detailed, accurate records of legal proceedings. As litigation continues to rise nationwide and the technology used to capture testimony evolves, there is a tremendous need for these professionals. Digital reporters and legal transcriptionists can work in the freelance market for court reporting agencies/transcription companies or as full-time government employees at a courthouse. There are some opportunities to work remotely in this field.

You will be fully prepared to pass the Certified Electronic Reporter (CER) and Certified Electronic Transcriber (CET) exams offered by the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers (AAERT). The AAERT's nationally recognized certifications are leading credentials required by various court systems and agencies.

This course will teach students about the court system, legal procedure, terminology, ethics, professionalism, and confidentiality. During the digital reporting portion of the course, students will learn how to cover all types of legal proceedings, including how to work with digital reporting software and equipment. There is no hands-on training with DR equipment. During the course's legal transcription portion, students will learn to format, transcribe, edit, and proofread legal transcripts for correct grammar, punctuation, and word usage. In addition to many exercises, quizzes, and self-graded assignments, students will receive personalized feedback on instructor-graded transcription assignments.

Note: If you are taking our court reporter training course to prepare for the certification exam, please research the locations you are interested in working at to determine whether they use digital reporting methods and ask if they recognize AAERT certification.

What you will learn

• Digital court reporting procedure for all types of proceedings, such as depositions, administrative hearings, court hearings, trials, and more
• Digital reporting hardware and software, including practice using digital recording software
• How to create an accurate legal transcript
• Master transcript formatting, focusing on federal court systems
• Discover parts of speech, proper legal punctuation, and spelling
• Increase knowledge of legal, medical, and industry terminology
• Understand professionalism, ethics, and confidentiality
• Gain fundamentals of the United States legal system

How you will benefit

• Develop the in-demand skills you need to become a successful digital reporter and legal transcriptionist who can work in person or at home
• Successfully prepare to sit for and pass the AAERT's (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers) Certified Electronic Reporter (CER) and Certified Electronic Transcriber (CET) exams
• The AAERT certification will help improve your marketability when applying for work at court reporting agencies or court systems, some of which require the certification by law or because of government contracts

1. Digital Reporting Course Introduction
2. The Legal System
1. Court System
2. Laws
3. Life Cycle of a Case
4. Types of Proceedings
5. Types of Court Reporters
6. Litigation Support Services
3. Terminology
1. Historic Terminology
2. Legal Terminology
3. Medical Terminology
4. Business Terminology
5. Pop Culture, Media, and Political Terminology
4. Hardware
1. Sound
2. Audio Equipment
3. Additional Equipment
5. Your Software and Annotations
1. Software
2. Annotations
3. Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR)
6. On the Job and On the Record
1. Before the Proceeding
2. During the Proceeding
3. After the Proceeding
4. Remote & Hybrid
5. Working with an Interpreter
6. Working with a Legal Videographer
7. Covering EUOs
7. Court Work and Large Proceedings
1. Intro to Courtroom Proceedings
2. Types of Court Proceedings
3. Court Annotations
4. Large Proceedings
8. Annotation Assignments
9. Professionalism in the Legal System
1. Professionalism and Decorum
2. Ethics
3. Maintain Confidentiality
10. Digital Reporting Course Wrap up
1. The Transcript
2. AAERT Certification Information
3. Digital Reporting Final Test
11. Legal Transcription Course Intro
12. English Language
1. Parts of Speech
2. Confusing Words
3. Spelling Rules
13. Grammar and Punctuation
1. Capitalization
2. Numbers
3. Intro to Punctuation
4. Sentence Punctuation
5. More Punctuation and Formatting
14. Word, Text Expansion, and Research
1. MS Word for Transcription
2. Text Expansion
3. Researching
15. Software and Annotations
1. Express Scribe & Foot Pedal Setup
2. DR Software Player
3. Annotations
16. Building the Transcript
1. What Gets Transcribed
2. Formatting
3. Parentheticals
4. Transcription Skills
5. Proofreading
17. TAs and Working Environment
1. Transcription Assignments
2. Working Environment
18. TAs and Professionalism
1. Transcription Assignments
2. Professional and Ethics
3. Maintaining Confidentiality
19. Legal Transcription Course Wrap-Up and Finals
1. AAERT Certification Information
2. Final Transcription Assignments
3. Legal Transcription Final Exam

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• You may use either a PC or a Mac for this course; however, please note that we do not provide support for Mac-specific issues. Additionally, if you intend to use the trial version of the DR (software included), a PC is required, as it is not compatible with Mac systems. (Most software providers in this field primarily support PC platforms.)
• If using a desktop with no internal sound card, it may be necessary to plug in an external microphone.
• A reliable Internet connection.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 11 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome is preferred. Mozilla Firefox and Safari are also compatible.
• MS Word (Microsoft Word 2016, 2019, and Office 365), CAT software, or any other word processor. (Only support for MS Word is provided.)
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Free Express Scribe software. You will be provided with download instructions upon enrollment.
• A free trial of digital reporting software will be provided in the Software module of the course. Minimum Requirement: Windows 11 - The trial software is compatible with PCs and will not function with other operating systems commonly used on computers/devices, such as Mac, Android, Chromebooks, or iOS.
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins, except for the Express Scribe and digital reporting software.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The supplies required for this course are included in enrollment. The following will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

• AltoEdge USB foot pedal
• Transcriber Headphones

Prerequisites:

To complete this course, you will need the following:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Basic computer skills, for example:
  • Create folders (aka directories) and save files
  • Locate files saved on a computer and upload them to a webpage
  • Use a web browser and search the Internet
  • Familiarity with a word processing program
  • Ability to use videoconferencing software, like Zoom
• Eligible for notary public commissions in your state

State Requirements:

Note: If you are taking this AAERT certification course to prepare for the exam, please research the locations where you are interested in working to determine whether they use digital reporting methods and recognize the AAERT certification.

Merritt Gilbert

Merritt Gilbert is a legal professional with over 15 years of industry experience. She is a Certified Electronic Reporter (CER), Certified Deposition Reporter (CDR), and holds a Certificate of Voice Writing. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University.

Natalie Hartsfield

Natalie Hartsfield is a court reporter with more than 20 years of experience in the legal field. She has taught court reporting since 2007. Natalie holds an Occupational Associate Degree in Court Reporting from Stenotype Institute and is a Certified Electronic Reporter (CER) and Certified Electronic Transcriber (CET) through AAERT.

What is the cost of an AAERT certification?

The AAERT certification exam has a registration fee of $275. Upon passing the certification exam, you need to become a Professional Member of AAERT ($125/year) within 30 days to receive and hold your certification.

Where can I work as a digital reporter?

Digital reporters work remotely or in person, depending on the company they choose to work with and the need within their area. Digital reporters can work throughout the United States on federal cases and with some agencies or as freelancers. Local agencies and/or courthouses may vary in employing digital reporters depending on state legislation.

Where can I work as a legal transcriptionist?

The majority of legal transcriptionists work remotely, however, there may be some opportunities for in-office/in-courthouse employment, if desired. Legal transcriptionists can work throughout the United States.

How much do digital reporters make?

According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a digital court reporter in the U.S. is $67,770 ($33 per hour). Many court reporters work as independent contractors, so their pay depends on how much they can work. Some digital reporters also work as legal transcriptionists, and that would also change how much money they make.

What is the average legal transcriptionist salary?

According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a legal transcriptionist in the U.S. is $46,930 ($23 per hour). Many transcriptionists are independent contractors, so their pay varies based on the amount they work.

What is a legal transcriptionist?

The legal industry relies on legal transcriptionists to transcribe audio recordings of depositions, hearings, trials, and other legal proceedings. They will transcribe, format, proof, and certify official transcripts.

What is a digital reporter?

Digital reporters play a key role in the legal system by capturing and maintaining a verbatim record of court proceedings. Within the legal industry, digital reporters might also be known as electronic reporters. Some digital reporters must obtain their notary license if they will be swearing in witnesses. To create an accurate and detailed record of case events, digital reporters operate digital recording software to record, annotate, and submit court proceedings. Some digital reporters also create the official transcript of the court proceedings they cover.

Is this course compliant with California Assembly Bill 156?

Yes. This course aligns with the terminology requirements outlined in California Assembly Bill 156, issued in September 2022.

I often hear the term deposition officer. Does this course prepare me for that role?

Yes. Companies and courthouses sometimes use different titles for the role of a digital reporter. Examples include deposition officer, courtroom deputy, and digital monitor.

What is a notary and how do I become a notary?

Notaries review and validate signatures made on documents, as well as swear-in witnesses to testify under oath. Learn how to become a notary here. Digital reporters who only work in court, may not need to obtain their notary license.

Does this course prepare you for a certification?

Yes. You will be prepared to sit for the CER (Certified Electronic Reporter) and CET (Certified Electronic Transcriber) exams through AAERT (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers).

What are the certification exam requirements?

Preparing for an AAERT Certification Exam

In order to sit for the exam(s), testers must:

1. be eligible for a notary public commission AND
2. have obtained a high school diploma or its equivalent.

For a greater likelihood of passing the exam, the following is recommended (not required) for testers:

1. have one year of experience as a reporter or transcriber; OR
2. have completed a course of study in court reporting.

Can legal transcriptionists work from home?

Yes. Many legal transcriptionists are independent contractors that work from home and contract their services to attorneys and transcription or court reporting agencies employers, while some are employees of agencies or courthouses. Some legal transcriptionists have a full-time position as legal secretaries, paralegals, or law clerks and offer transcription services part-time.

What skills do you need for this career?

This career requires excellent English written and verbal skills, professionalism, visual and tactile acuity, and being comfortable with technology.

When can I start the course?

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

How long does it take to complete this course?

This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive six (9) months to complete the course.

What if I don't have enough time to complete my course within the time frame provided?

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

What kind of support will I receive?

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

What happens when I complete the course?

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

Am I guaranteed a job?

This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

Can I get financial assistance?

This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.

How can I get more information about this course?

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.

I love that it’s self-guided. I work full-time and am a single mom, so being able to do this around my schedule was great!

I really enjoyed the class, the material, and what I learned. The self-paced course was so convenient, and the timeline was a perfect amount of time for this course. Being self-paced did not cause any stress, but rather enough time to really take in what I was learning and go back and review, as well as take whatever and how much notes I needed/wanted to take.

The learning aspect of this class was so easy to follow and learn from. Nothing in this course was "above" my head and difficult to learn. It is made to actually teach you, so you understand what you are learning. I enjoyed this course, and I can't wait to get certified and start my new skill!

I have always wanted to work in a court setting. I heard about digital court reporting and legal transcription, but I wasn’t sure where to start. After learning about this course, I figured out my next steps. I completed the digital court reporting course and passed the AAERT CER exam. I now work in a courthouse and absolutely love my job. I am happy I took the legal transcription course because it gave me a lot of the necessary tools that I will be using daily. I had a wonderful teacher who was very helpful. I appreciate everything she has taught me.

I am just wrapping up the Digital Court Reporting and Legal Transcription combo program. My instructors have been so helpful when I have questions and provided detailed feedback on all assignments. Their attention and assistance exceeded my expectations, especially for an online course. Although this class took far longer than I planned and was far more work than I expected, I learned a TON, and I feel confident that I am ready to take my certification exams. I definitely could not have done this without my instructors!

Law is always something that has interested me, but going to law school and/or taking in person classes at this point in time wasn’t something I’d be able to do. I absolutely loved the classes and my instructors! Both instructors went above and beyond answering all my questions and praising me for learning something new to get my career started. I’m planning to sit for my certification tests in the next few months and extremely grateful for all the resources they’ve provided me to help prepare me better.