Court Reporting: Tools of the Trade
With every profession comes a set of tools used to carry-out a task. A carpenter uses a hammer
to build houses, a doctor relies on a stethoscope to hear a patient’s heart, and a black jack dealer
gracefully shuffles a deck of playing cards in front of eager gamblers as they sit waiting. Being
professionals, court reporters also have a unique set of tools. Without these tools it would be
next to impossible to perform the jobs in which they have trained so rigorously for.
A freelance court reporter’s job is extremely mobile. They spend a lot of time in the car
traveling to and from deposition locations. Typically a court reporter keeps their specific “tools
of the trade” in a large wheeled bag that can be easily rolled from job to job. This bag acts as
their mobile office. The question is…what’s inside of that bag? Well, have you ever attended a
magic show and watched an illusionist reach into a magic hat and pull out a rabbit? Then reach
in again and pull out white doves, then a set of rings, then a scarf? That magic hat is similar to a
court reporter’s bag; filled with an endless number of goodies that allow them to carry out their
jobs.
So, what really is inside a court reporter’s bag? What are a court reporter’s tools of the trade?
Inside a court reporter’s bag you will generally find:
Essential Equipment:
Steno machine and tripod
Laptop with CAT software
Additional laptops
Realtime delivery equipment (router, cables)
iPads or other tablets for clients to view realtime
Microphones
Web cameras
Extension cords and power strips
Chargers and adapters
SD cards and thumb drives
Exhibit stickers
Label maker
Headphones
Batteries
Food and water (you never know when you will get a break!)
WiFi hotspot or MiFi card
Ethernet cable
Gaffer’s tape (for taping down cords)
Cell phone (for a calendar or backup recording app)
USB hub
Job Specific Items:
Attorney/client dictionaries used for each job
Copies of applicable statutes, rules, and code of ethics
Notice of deposition
Cheat sheets for attorneys
Additional Items:
USB cooling fan
Cheaters (glasses) or a magnifying card
A plastic box filled with:
oHighlighters
oSharpies
oPens
oPaper clips
oRubber bands
oSticky notes
oStaplers
oNotepads
Mints/Lifesavers (to stay alert)
Tylenol or Advil (for those extra hard depositions)
Kleenex
Lint-free cloth for cleaning screens
Medium sized pillow (to support the back)
Hand warmers or a thin blanket
Cough drops
Extra earbuds (for hard-of-hearing witnesses)
Business cards
