“No one understands court reporting like another court recorder,” says Rhonda Menor. Menor is a registered court reporter who established the Virtual Mentor Program with the National Court Recorder Association (NCRA).
In every industry, continuing education, support, a network and a mentor help lead to better professionals. Court recorders and videographers are pillars of the legal profession, masters at technology that nobody else knows (stenographs, for starters), and are in high demand as courts are overburdened with tasks and cases.
The NCRA has long been a platform for court recorders, and aims at encouraging excellence in the field. By matching seasoned mentors with those new to the profession (or students preparing for a career), a better future of court recording is assured.
Why Court Recorder Mentors Should Volunteer
A teacher has to be highly familiar with his or her material to pass that knowledge on to the next generation. Court recorder mentors might not know everything about the latest practices and technology, but they get up to speed quickly when they know a mentee is relying on them.
Court recorders who volunteer their time to better their overall profession are passionate about what they do, care about the latest advances, and they bring that commitment to every aspect of their job.
Court recording is also a profession that’s evolving quickly. Video recording is relatively new, and offering transcript turnarounds nearly in real time has become standard. In an era where everything is moving faster, court recorders have to keep up, and they have to do so with flawless, unbiased results. Extremely demanding, court recording is a skill and career path that requires incredible attention to detail and patience.
Is Your Court Recorder a Volunteer?
Mentorship is just one way the NCRA urges legal professionals to give back. The Angel Donor program gives court recorders the opportunity to donate time and effort to student scholarships, historic preservation efforts and help in securing and learning the latest technologies. Court recorders can also join an advisory committee or the NCRA Board of Directors, both committees continuously looking for dedicated professionals who want to give back.
Committees are also welcoming volunteers, including the Certified Legal Video Specialist Program, Constitution and Bylaws Committee, Committee on Professional Ethics and Council on Approved Student Education. Joining a committee shows that a court recorder is firmly rooted in their career, and you can rest easy knowing they take just as much pride in their daily (paid) tasks.
Asking potential court recorders or videographers about their philanthropy and volunteer efforts isn’t a must, but it will give you more insight into who they are and how involved they are in their profession. It can also open conversations during the interview process that reveals more about their character.
Interested in connecting with the best legal professionals in your area? Contact DepoMaxMerit Litigation Services, and you’ll link up with premium court recorders, many of whom embrace a life of philanthropy.