Court Reporting/Stenography Bray Institute Further Education

theo2008

Hi,

I'm half thinking of doing this course. Does anyone have any information on stenography, are stenographers still being employed or has technology taken over, is it a worthwhile course? Do you know anyone who has done it/doing it?

I'd appreciate any response about it.

servicecharge

Aren't they getting rid of stenographers in favour of digital recording? Might not be a great time to start a course if they are.

theo2008

Yeh, that was my concern. It's really hard to find any information out about stenography in Ireland. Damn technology because I think I'd really love it.

servicecharge

Maybe give the courts service a ring.

My impression was that the digital recording thing is very much on the way in. However, how it will work is another thing. It could well be a disaster and we'll be back to doing it the old way.

sh_o

Gwen Malone stenography services are used alot for this work in the four courts - note that even with the digital recording taking place, people will still require a transcript, either over night, or in a lot of matters, simultaneously.

Yes that profession is moving on, but I presume the skills learnnt on that course will be needed/used for some time yet. I think a large amount of stenographers tend to work in the UK for a time.

Saucey-Susie

sh_o wrote: »

Gwen Malone stenography services are used alot for this work in the four courts - note that even with the digital recording taking place, people will still require a transcript, either over night, or in a lot of matters, simultaneously.

Yes that profession is moving on, but I presume the skills learnnt on that course will be needed/used for some time yet. I think a large amount of stenographers tend to work in the UK for a time.

At the moment the digital system is in the majority of the courts now. Id say at least 80% and it is working great. Regarding people still requiring transcripts still, stenographers arent required for the typing of this. Just a normal transcriber, ie someone with fast typing speeds and good english and attention to detail.

There has been a huge drop in the number of courts that have required stenographers over the past few months and some of these stenographers have now been trained on the new digital system to be a court logger, completely different to a stenographer.

Hope this helps

Tedette

I'm an ex stenographer and wouldn't recommend anyone tries to get into the business in the current climate. I left the job 18 months ago when the pilot scheme started for the Digital Recording System (DAR) which seems to be up and running now with no major problems.

If you are still interested in working as a stenographer there are still jobs in the UK. I think the course in BIFE is still going ahead, but bear in mind after completing this course you'll need at least three years experience before you are making big money and chances are you'll have to leave Ireland to get that experience. There is a company in the UK, Wordwave, who used to train and then employ stenographers, I'm not sure if they are still doing it but worth a phonecall if you were interested.

With a bit of luck the money for the DAR will run out and we can go back to the good old days of having a human taking down the note in the courtroom.

Billandben666

Court reporting is still widely used all over the country and the Digital recording is only used in the criminal courts, chancery and certain family High Court cases. Otherwise, there is a big demand for real time court reporters which can broadcast their note cleanly onto laptop screens, live television and large screens in conference halls.

The opportunity to travel, also, is a bonus. Australia, Canada and the USA still use court reporters and if you have a steno machine, laptop and steno software, you are a ready made court reporter with an office attached.

Court reporting is still going strong and of course there have been casualties over the past few years because of the recession but, like any profession, if you want something badly enough you only need to work hard at it and the results will be positive.

Pro Hoc Vice

Billandben666 wrote: »

Court reporting is still widely used all over the country and the Digital recording is only used in the criminal courts, chancery and certain family High Court cases. Otherwise, there is a big demand for real time court reporters which can broadcast their note cleanly onto laptop screens, live television and large screens in conference halls.

The opportunity to travel, also, is a bonus. Australia, Canada and the USA still use court reporters and if you have a steno machine, laptop and steno software, you are a ready made court reporter with an office attached.

Court reporting is still going strong and of course there have been casualties over the past few years because of the recession but, like any profession, if you want something badly enough you only need to work hard at it and the results will be positive.

DAR is working in every court of the country, there is even a number of mobile machines to make sure all courts are covered. There have been a Discovery applications to get access to the recordings in the District Courts.

It is true that parties in cases can and do engage private providers who can produce instant transcription or over night or transcriptions after the case is heard.

Bepolite

Billandben666 wrote: »

Court reporting is still widely used all over the country and the Digital recording is only used in the criminal courts, chancery and certain family High Court cases. Otherwise, there is a big demand for real time court reporters which can broadcast their note cleanly onto laptop screens, live television and large screens in conference halls.

The opportunity to travel, also, is a bonus. Australia, Canada and the USA still use court reporters and if you have a steno machine, laptop and steno software, you are a ready made court reporter with an office attached.

Court reporting is still going strong and of course there have been casualties over the past few years because of the recession but, like any profession, if you want something badly enough you only need to work hard at it and the results will be positive.

Seems very E&W centric. I didn't think we had a Chancery court anymore, or rather it's fully integrated.