Court reporting software is software that is used in conjunction with a stenograph, or in conjunction with the other duties a court reporter may have. Sometimes, the software is meant to help translate notes taken on the stenograph into a transcription that others not familiar with the symbols and letters can read. Some software products may help record directly to a computer, or even help with the administration and logistics of court reporting services.
The most high profile court reporting software is that which translates the notes for others to read. On a network, the transcript from a court proceeding can go right from the court reporter's stenograph to other connected computers. This allows the attorneys and judge to have access to the transcript as it is being made. Without this type of court reporting software, the court reporter would have to manually transcribe the entire proceedings. This would cause a substantial delay, and be very time consuming and costly.
This translating court reporting software does more than just make it more convenient for the attorneys and judges, it allows the court reporter to be more productive. No longer does the court reporter have to spend many hours providing transcription services. They are provided by the software. In cases where an attorney needs a printed deposition, all that is needed is to simply proofread the transcription that has already been automatically prepared, and then print it out.
Some types of court reporting software are specifically set up for scheduling and time management. This will not only help the court reporter keep track of future commitments, but also log the time spent on each case. This provides for accurate billing to the client. While there are many types of time management software that can accomplish this task, some of it is marketed specifically to court reporting services.
Other types of court reporting software may be used in other types of environments. For example, when it comes to live closed captioning of television, there will be other software used to immediately put the words on the television screen. These captions are often typed by those with court reporter training, and using a stenograph.
Though some court reporting software products are relatively new to the market and certain to evolve, court reporting schools will often give an overview of some of the most popular products. This may not only include information on what they do, but how to use them and where to acquire them. These products will help the court reporter increase earning potential and accuracy.