P2P

47 I L T A N E T . O R G I n today's fast-paced legal landscape, the stenographer shortage has become critical, creating significant challenges for law firms and legal professionals nationwide. To address this shortage and keep the wheels of justice turning, law firms and legal professionals must understand there is a viable alternative: digital court reporting. With streamlining innovations and technological developments, the next generation of court reporters is embracing this shift to digital reporting as this method allows for greater accessibility to this profession; rather than working on and developing the physical skills that stenographers are famous for, digital reporters of varying physical capability levels may become the guardian of the record. While some are hesitant to adopt this approach, others are calling for a blending of the methodologies to help overcome the obstacles that the deficit has caused for the legal system, especially concerning the delays in proceedings caused by a lack of stenographer availability. From inkwells to typewriters and stenographs to digital reporting software, it is vital to understand that the ever-evolving methodologies of court reporting have upheld the purpose of the court reporter. The role of court reporters, at its core, whether through stenography or digital reporting, remains the same: the foundation of the justice system. Reporters are responsible for producing and securing all legal proceedings' unabridged, unbiased, and uncensored truth. Over the century, this truth has persisted as methodologies emerged and adapted. Effects of the Stenographer Shortage The stenographer shortage has far-reaching implications for the legal industry. The reality is that the demand for court reporters significantly outpaces the available supply. One of the primary factors contributing to this shortage is the need for more field stenographers to replace those retiring. As experienced stenographers retire from their positions, losing their expertise and experience further widens the gap between supply and demand. Research shows that every year, as 200 stenographers graduate and enter the workforce, 1,120 stenographers retire, leaving an annual deficit of 920 stenographers. This continued depletion leads to a projected path of a 50% decrease in the stenographer workforce by the year 2036. One solution Stenograph has taken to address the stenographer shortage is to provide contributions, writing, student software, and scholarships to students in the Project Steno program or NCRF's Project A-to-Z program, with the goal being to encourage more individuals to pursue stenography as a career. However, this solution faces significant obstacles. Stenographic trade schools, the primary institutions for training court reporters, have been closing at an alarming rate due to a sharp drop in 47 I L T A N E T . O R G "The demand for court reporters significantly outpaces the available supply."

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