Susan Frye Court Reporting News

Capturing and transcribing testimony in court, depositions, and spoken word is an integral part of the legal process and is especially important to help attorneys save valuable time and energy. This is where court reporters step in! Here are a few ways court reporters play a crucial role in court proceedings.

Immediate Recall of Information

During testimony in court and depositions, we are making a verbatim record. If certain testimony or details need to be recalled, the court reporter is able to do this.

Quick Turnaround

At Susan Frye Court Reporting, we are able to turn around transcriptions in a short amount of time. We are also able to rush a document if it is needed for expedited delivery. We know that smooth proceedings and attorneys’ work rely on these documents, and we have perfected a timeline that fits these needs.

Archive Storage

Transcripts and exhibits are safe, secure, and readily available for clients. Once we have finalized documents, they are uploaded to our repository and kept indefinitely. This is the best way to easily access documents.

Accurate Record

Last, but certainly not least, a court reporter’s most important job is to have an accurate record. We recognize that our transcripts document details that can make or break a case. Above all, we strive for perfection. 

We are here for all of your deposition and transcription needs! Thank you for trusting Susan Frye Court Reporting with this important work!

1. Set a goal for yourself.

Take some time to reflect on how last year went for you. What went well? What didn’t go well? What do you want to accomplish in 2021? Whether it’s a personal or professional goal, write it down in a highly visible place, and check in with yourself often.

2. Get organized - mentally and physically.

We live in a crazy time, and there’s no doubt our physical environment affects our mental environment. Clear your workspace and clear your mind each day. You’ll feel better and you’ll work better, too!

3. Take time for yourself each day. 

Do you often work through your lunch break? Or, notice that you’re sitting a lot these days? We do too. Make self-care a priority this year by blocking off time in your schedule to focus on yourself. Take a bubble bath, drink some tea, read a book, go for a walk, anything that helps you focus on your wellbeing. 

Most importantly, if 2020 taught us anything, it’s that change can happen quickly. Be kind to yourself this year, we’re all doing our best. 

If your holiday shopping includes a gift for a court reporter, we’ve got some ideas for you! Show the stenographer in your life a little love with these gift ideas.

A Cute Mug

Treat them with a new mug for their favorite hot beverages. Our favorites: a quarantine court reporter, and a double-sided mug with a steno keypad.

Head Massager

Help them relax and reset between depositions with a 20-finger head massager (trust us, they’ll thank you later!).

Hand Lotion

To keep their lightning-fast fingers from getting too dry, wrap up some highly-recommended hand lotions.

Candle or Diffuser

Freshen up their workspace with a humorous candle or an at-home essential oils diffuser.

Art

Add some color to their home office with a special stenographer watercolor, or a new court reporter planner. 

However you’re celebrating the holidays, we hope you share lots of laughter and make great memories.  

It’s safe to say 2020 has been a year of uncertainty. From a pandemic and self-quarantining to social unrest and election season, it’s been quite a ride. But as we enter the holiday season that will bring an end to 2020, we still have a lot to be thankful for. 

• The ability to work from home. 

We never expected that someday our court reporters would be reporting depositions via Zoom from their own homes, but as the country reacted to offices and courts closing, court reporters all over adapted quickly. 

• Zoom depositions.

Not only have court reporters found new ways to push through in this time, they’ve paved the way for virtual work. We do miss in-person depositions and see a light at the end of the tunnel when these return as our mainstay!

• Awesome clients.

We are so grateful for the patience of our clients this year. We know it hasn’t been easy, but we’ve all proven that we can make the necessary adjustments to get the job done! 

• Our team.

Lastly, we’re thankful for the wonderful women that make up Susan Frye Court Reporting and for their amazing teamwork and resilience.

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season! 

Joy Kripal will be retiring from SFCR on September 30, 2020, after ten years of keeping all-things-office running smoothly. She will be moving to Dumas, Arkansas, to live near family. Joy began working at SFCR in March of 2010.  We had known each other from working in the same office building and were fortunate to have her come onboard at that time. While we are sad to see her leave, we are excited for her next chapter of retirement and relaxation.

Please wish Joy well by sending her an email or mailing a card to Susan Frye Court Reporting, Attention: Joy, 300 Walnut Street, #36, Des Moines, IA 50309. You are also welcome to call her at 515-284-1972. 

Going forward, please use the following email address when contacting the office to schedule or for any other inquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The COVID pandemic hit some industries harder than others. We are fortunate in the court reporting world that much of our work can be done remotely. While some aspects of our business have changed a bit, we have made necessary adjustments to enable us to deliver our same high-quality service during this time.

What Has Changed:

As a result of the pandemic, we have acquired a new skill set that we otherwise would not have had!  We have become adept at doing remote depositions via Zoom, and other platforms when requested.  Early on my reporters suggested that we offer Zoom training to attorneys explaining how to take depositions remotely.  We had a great response to this offer and have held many training sessions over the past several months.  This offer still stands!  If you would like to take depositions via Zoom but just don’t know how that would look, please contact us and we will schedule a 30-45 minute training session for you so that you will feel more comfortable doing this.  

We are currently doing multiple depositions via Zoom every day at SFCR.  I have become the Zoom scheduler at our office.  We have five Zoom rooms available every day, and I am happy to schedule for you when you need to conduct a deposition via the Zoom platform.

Due to the pandemic, we will now always have our Zoom deposition-taking capability in place.  All reporters at SFCR are comfortable with this new service that we offer.

What Hasn’t Changed:

The great service that we have always offered still remains solid.  You should feel confident when you contact SFCR that we will give you the same service you have come to expect.  In addition to doing Zoom depositions every day, we are also doing in-person depositions with the appropriate guidelines currently suggested in place.

We are experiencing a very busy schedule the last couple of months and are very thankful for the work; however, we are only able to handle a certain number of jobs each day.  Please call to schedule as soon as you are able.

The skills to be a great court reporter go beyond having fast fingers and the ability to learn the steno machine. Though these are critical skills, there are other characteristics that make for a great court reporter. If you’re currently a court reporting student or thinking of venturing into the field, these skills will help you excel in the court reporting world!

Time Management

If you work for a court reporting agency, like Susan Frye Court Reporting, your schedule is unstructured and relies heavily on you to build out your day-to-day work. Some days you might be working from home preparing transcripts, and other days may be spent in depositions or hearings. While a benefit of the job is flexibility, it does require time management to stick to your own schedule!

Attention to Detail

The success of a transcript hinges on all the tiny details. We are not ‘big picture’ people. Court reporting requires meticulous work to ensure that there are no errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or accuracy. If the thought of pouring over a transcript and proofreading gives you a headache, this might not be your choice of career!

Professionalism

There are many skills and values that fall under professionalism. Being punctual, courteous, and always representing the agency is important when going to depositions or hearings. The timeliness of work and always being reliable for clients is also important.  Knowing when to engage in small talk with a client or witness and when not to is important as well.

Confidentiality and Neutrality

We are in the legal field. We encounter a lot of confidential and sensitive information. Part of our role is to keep this confidential and secure. Another important factor is remaining neutral. While you may not agree with what is being said during a hearing or deposition, it is your job to record what is being said--not to give your opinion.

Diligent

Learning the skills to be a court reporter, especially using a steno machine, requires diligent practice and dedication. Successful court reporters spent many hours during their school practicing their skills. This doesn’t stop once you get into the field. It’s important to keep up on the latest technology available to court reporters.

While technological advances are being made in many arenas, decreasing or eliminating the need for a human workforce, court reporters can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that there is career longevity and safety. There is still an ongoing debate of man versus machine when it comes to recording court proceedings and depositions, but time and time again the court reporter wins out over a piece of technology.

Traditional court reporting (a court reporter and a steno machine) allows for the ability to ask for clarification when statements are unclear or mumbled. We can filter out white noise that may distract from a deposition. What is heard, or misheard, in court proceedings can directly affect the outcome of a case. Verbatim records are as necessary as the judge who presides over the case.

Realtime court reporting, an advancement in recent years, allows all parties access to a rough transcript as a deposition or hearing is happening. As we record a deposition in shorthand, a computer transcribes and produces a transcript that allows lawyers to follow along. This immediate transcript is much easier to review than an audio recording.

What we can expect as court reporters is to adapt to new technology. Somewhere in the man- versus-machine argument is a happy compromise of court reporters utilizing advancements in technology to benefit the industry. Just as we are no longer taking out quill pens and inkwells to record testimony, we cannot expect that in 10 years steno machines and the assistance of technology will have stayed stagnant. 

If you have questions about what we do as court reporters, the services we offer, or how you can utilize Susan Frye Court Reporting, please reach out to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

It is the season to be grateful and remind ourselves of the many things that we are lucky to have in our lives! Our list of gratitude may look a little different than the average person (who else would be grateful for a steno machine?!) but this just means we really love our jobs!

1. The Steno Machine

Of course the steno machine tops our list! It’s our trusty sidekick, and we would be a bit lost without it. It’s not lost on us that the steno machine is a relatively new machine in the grand timeline of innovation. We are grateful for technology and some of the ease it brings to our lives!

2. Great Clients

We are very lucky to work with great clients! A favorite aspect of the job is meeting and interacting with new people on a near weekly basis. Susan Frye Court Reporting has wonderful clients that are always warm and welcoming when we take depositions. 

3. Flexible Work Hours

This is a great perk of the job! Many of our court reporters are raising children and have the flexibility to spend time with their family without sacrificing their career. It’s truly a blessing to work in a field that honors the work-life balance.

4. Job Security

The court reporting industry is not disappearing anytime soon! Time and time again, court reporters prove to be more valuable than a machine recording a deposition or a court proceeding. We recognize how lucky we are to be in an industry with job security.

5. Fast Fingers

We wouldn’t be anything without our fast fingers! Don’t be fooled, we earned these digits! Lots and lots of practice went into making our hands court reporter worthy. It’s a skill we are grateful we spent time perfecting.

6. Wonderful Coworkers

Susan Frye Court Reporting is more than a group of freelance court reporters. We are a little family! When you enjoy your colleagues and the culture of your workplace, your job is less of a chore and more of a passion. 

In the world of freelance court reporting, there is a lot of freedom and flexibility in your schedule, when you work and how you work. This is one of the many perks of the job! Unlike a court reporter who is assigned to a courtroom and goes to work at a courthouse every day, our days are largely dependent on if and when we are taking depositions and how heavy of a workload we carry. We’ve talked a lot about what a court reporter does on a broad scale, but what does our daily life look like?

Maria Taylor, one of the newest hires at Susan Frye Court Reporting, graciously documented an average working day. Keep in mind, this is just one example of the day of a court reporter:

6 AM: Wake up and work on transcripts or gradually ease into the work day

7 AM: Get ready and drive to location of deposition

7:30 AM: I like to arrive 30 minutes prior to a deposition to set up and be prepared

8 AM: The deposition begins. Depositions can be a lengthy process. Fuel and hydrate appropriately! (Bathroom breaks can sometimes be a luxury.) 

3 PM: Head home after the deposition wraps up. On deposition days, I like to spend my evenings away from work and with my kids.

Maria takes about 3 to 4 depositions per week. On average, Maria spends an additional 10-12 hours working on a deposition outside of the actual time reporting it. This work includes cleaning up transcripts, re-reading transcripts, and sending transcripts in for production. 

When she doesn’t have a deposition scheduled for the day, Maria works from home. We only need our steno machine to work! And maybe a comfy chair! On these days, she likes to spend extra time working in the evenings when her kids are in bed. Of course, this work is completed in her pajamas!

As you can see from Maria’s schedule, every day can be different. Some days are purely work- from-home days, and other days include seeing multiple attorneys for depositions. Many of our court reporters have young children and enjoy the flexibility the career of a freelance court reporter offers. 

September 2019 marks my 25th year in business! There have been many challenges and many joys, but not a day goes by that I think of how grateful I am for having a career I love in the court reporting business. Let's take a look back at the 25 years:

How has the industry changed in your 25 years of business?

At Susan Frye Court Reporting, we pride ourselves on keeping up with the latest and greatest advancements in technology to serve our clients well. We are seeing more videoconference depositions and depositions via Zoom. This provides either attorneys or witnesses a way to participate in a deposition when travel is not possible, for example. Another change we have seen is that at our office, most transcripts are only being delivered electronically. We are, however, happy to provide paper transcripts to anyone who still prefers that method of delivery. I understand this. I still like to hold a newspaper when I read it!

What advice would you give someone starting their own business?

Most importantly, talk to someone who has already done it and been there. The best advice you can get is from someone who has gone before you. Also, surround yourself with supportive people like you might find in networking groups. This has been something that I have done only more recently but have found very beneficial.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced with business ownership?

There are many hats that you wear when you’re a small business owner. You need to know a little bit about a lot of things! I’ve learned a lot just through trial and error. That being said, being a small business owner is a privilege.

Why do you enjoy being a business owner?

Many things come to mind, not the least of which is you are your own boss. That being said, being a business owner comes with a lot of responsibility. If you have employees, you want to make sure they can provide an income for their families. Being a business owner can also provide flexibility, and I do like that. If I want to help a family member with something during the day, most days I can do that. I can also work on invoicing, payroll, calendaring in the evenings if I want.

Why did you decide to open up your own court reporting agency?

Many people already know the answer to this question, but if not I’ll share it again. My twin boys were 14 months old at the time I started my business, and I wanted to have some flexibility. I worked for another court reporting firm at the time. What I really wanted to do was open a clothing store; however, I’m married to a banker, and he said, and I quote, that will never happen! Smart man. Retail is a very hard business to be in and has only gotten more difficult over the years. He said, “Why don’t you just start your own court reporting business. That’s what you know.” So I said, “Well, I guess I could do that.” And the rest, as they say, is history! Such a blessing this business has been to my employees, their families, and to mine as well.

We are happy to welcome a new court reporter to the Susan Frye Court Reporting family. Welcome Maria Taylor! Maria is relocating back to Des Moines after living in Kansas City for 9 years. 

Maria attended court reporting school at AIB, like many of the court reporters in our firm. After completing her degree in 2010, she moved with her husband, Mark, to Kansas City. It was always her goal to return to Des Moines, the city she grew up in. Maria and Mark have two daughters, Gianna and Gemma, and two fur babies, Zoe and Lupe. They are elated to be back near family. 

Maria chose court reporting as her career because of the fast-paced environment and the opportunity to meet many different people on a daily basis. And like many of us, the steno machine fascinated her! Maria knows many of the employees at our firm and considers them to be family. We welcome her with open arms!

Aside from court reporting, Maria enjoys coffee at Smokey Row, going on play dates with her daughters, or enjoying some of Des Moines’ best restaurants. She’s also very ambitious and plans to train and complete her second half marathon in 2020!

The Veterans History Project is a wonderful initiative that collects oral histories of American veterans so that future generations can hear these collected histories and better understand the realities of war. The collection is stored at the Library of Congress as part of the American Folklife Center. The database can also be accessed online.

Twice per year, the Iowa Court Reporters Association (ICRA), in conjunction with the National Court Reporters Association, gathers volunteers to record veteran stories. This year, our own Julie McCurnin participated at the ICRA Annual Conference. Her husband, Mike, also volunteered. It’s important to note, you don’t have to be a court reporter to record a veteran’s story! The VHP provides a Field Kit for volunteers to read through the directions for collecting interviews.

Prior to Mike and Julie beginning the interview process, they were given a brief bio of their veteran along with sample questions to ask. The group of veterans included eight, male Vietnam War vets and one female Gulf War vet. Each veteran was acknowledged for their service and presented with a certificate.

Julie was partnered with a Vietnam War veteran named Jim. He was a mere 19 years old when he went off to war.

“This fact was not lost on me.  That is the current age of my son who is home now after completing his first year of college.  I was in a constant state of awe listening to this gentle man (purposely written as two words 😉) relate experiences that can only be imagined by me as incredibly horrific.”

Julie relayed that participating in the event was an absolute honor, and she looks forward to volunteering again. We’re proud to have her as a Susan Frye Court Reporter!

We encourage you to learn more about this project and volunteer if the chance is presented. These stories are too important to be forgotten and should be permanently placed in our country’s history.

Networking is essential for any career, including court reporters. In Iowa, especially around the metro area, there are plenty of opportunities and groups for networking. Networking groups open the doors for career advancement, mentorship, and meeting like-minded peers.

NAWBO Iowa

The National Association of Women Business Owners has an extremely active Iowa chapter. Their mission reads: “Propelling women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide.” The inclusive environment of this networking group creates a welcoming atmosphere. Networking can be intimidating, especially if you are just joining the workforce or new to a city. I highly recommend NAWBO Iowa for career connections!

I was recently honored at NAWBO’s Toast to You event with a milestone anniversary. There were many women there celebrating milestone anniversaries all the way from one year in business to forty years!  I am celebrating 25 years in business this year. More on that to follow in the months ahead.

FemCity Des Moines

FemCity is a nationwide networking group with meet up’s in many metro cities, including

Des Moines. In fact, the Des Moines chapter has been one of the fastest growing in the U.S. FemCity utilizes a private Facebook group, member-only events and monthly coffee connections that are open to anyone to foster relationships and growth in women entrepreneurs. There is a great mix of younger women as well as seasoned women. Again, the atmosphere of this group is extremely inviting and has created a wonderful culture based on support instead of competition.

Chamber Groups

Another wonderful option for networking is to get involved in your local chamber. Though chambers often include an annual membership fee, the benefits are worth it! Chambers can help spread the message of your business and connect you to lucrative business opportunities. Des Moines has multiple chambers for each area of the metro, including Downtown Des Moines and West Des Moines.

Iowa Court Reporters Association

 Last, but certainly not least, is a court reporter-specific group. Though there are national groups, having an Iowa association is a great asset for court reporters. The ICRA holds an annual convention with CEU’s available. It’s always great to connect with fellow reporters from across the state to stay in the know!

March celebrates many things: the arrival of spring, March Madness, International Women’s Day. On March 8th, women from around the world are celebrated for supporting one another, crossing barriers, and breaking glass ceilings. It’s not lost on us that court reporting might be an anomaly in the world of careers and glass ceilings. And perhaps this is one of the reasons we are so passionate about court reporting. One visit to a court reporting class makes it quite obvious this is a women-dominated field. As of February 2018, the NCRA reported 89% of its membership was female.

It’s also not lost on us that we are a female-owned and operated company with an all-female staff. Again, this might not be strange inside the court reporting community, but in the world of business ownership, this is rare. The camaraderie within Susan Frye Court Reporting is perhaps stronger because of the all-female team. Many of the court reporters juggle being a mother, wife, and full-time employee. We understand the never-ending struggle to achieve work-life-family balance. We forge bonds based on this sisterhood and the sometimes unspoken truths of being a working mother. But, we’re also very proud to stand shoulder to shoulder as females and defy the standards or limitations put on us. And, we’re proud to celebrate with the other strong, do-it-all business women in Iowa!

Three years ago, Iowa ranked last for number of female-owned businesses, but at the beginning of 2019, the state moved up to 8th! There’s so much pride in the fact that our little state of Iowa has innovative women who are willing to toe the line and risk it all to start a business. There’s also a lot of joy that our state supports women-owned businesses and helps them not just survive, but truly thrive.

For the month of March, we hope you support the women-owned businesses in Iowa. We hope you thank the strong and powerful women in your life. We hope you recognize the trailblazers who enabled us to break glass ceilings. We hope you spend time with your female friends and colleagues and forge stronger bonds. And remember, when women support each other, incredible things happen!

Court Reporting and Captioning Week is a national celebration of our favorite career!  This year, we celebrated during the week of February 9th; and although the official week has passed, the love for court reporting continues 365 days per year.

Activities for this special week are promoted by national groups, such as the NCRA, and local groups. Last year, Susan attended a ceremony at the state Capitol with the governor making an official declaration to kick off the week. This is an annual tradition and occurred again this year with Gov. Reynolds.

Photo courtesy of the Iowa Court Reporters Association

Every year, our office learns a little bit more about the storied history of court reporting. Thanks to the NCRA for sharing little known facts about court reporting:

•  The ampersand (&) is one of the earliest examples of shorthand.
• Capturing the record of important proceedings dates back to the fourth century B.C.
• In an emergency situation, broadcast captioners can provide vital information to 48 million Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Court reporting was done by written shorthand until the steno machine was invented by Miles Bartholomew in 1879.
• The first steno machine punched holes into paper until ink was introduced.

While we love the fun facts about court reporting, we also love the little known facts about the Susan Frye Court Reporting firm:

•  There are 9 court reporters in the firm, in addition to Joy, who keeps the office running like a well-oiled machine.
• Between every court reporter in the firm, we have nearly 170 years of reporting experience. Melissa Burns wins the gold medal with 41 years of experience, and Susan comes in a close second place.
• The majority of our reporters attended AIB court reporting school.
• We have some avid sports fans in the firm, including the Cubs and Hawkeyes!
• We are the proud mothers of 17 children. It takes a village!

Court reporting will always hold a special place in our hearts. We love the career and the wonderful opportunities it brings us. From meeting with great clients to enjoying time away from the office with co-workers, we can’t imagine a better career.

It is the start of a new semester, and for court reporting students, this means continuing their courses to become a certified shorthand reporter. An education in court reporting looks different than a typical college class. Lectures on history and memorizing important dates for pop quizzes are replaced by learning the technical skills needed for a court reporting career. The DMACC program in Newton is a wonderful program that spends ample time preparing students for the realities of court reporting in the real world. I am part of their mentor program that pairs professionals with students so we can lend a helping hand and give advice when needed.

For the court reporting students that are looking for tips to increase their skills, or are wondering what the “pros” did to make it through school, you’ve come to the right spot! The women of Susan Frye Court Reporting compiled their best tips to help give you a boost in your program!

“As competitive as the program can be, try to have a healthy competition, but don’t let it stop you from making friends with your classmates. When you’re out working, you will enjoy catching up and asking advice of each other. Also, your progress will greatly increase if you spend all your free time practicing. I know it’s cliche, and it gets old hearing it, but the time you put in practicing will pay off with passing quicker takes.” - Kaylan McCord

“Practice at a higher speed than the next test you’re planning to take.” - Julie McCurnin

“Be diligent to set enough time aside each day for writing practice.  Be consistent, and don't cut that time short no matter what. Also, get involved in professional groups as much as you can or local groups that will help you grow as a reporter.” - Stacey Karsjen

Melissa Burns was full of tips (and a fun story!) to use in your studies as well as when you begin your career.

“Speaking from experience, I Googled every way I could think of trying to find the spelling for a Dr. Znou.  Finally, after an SOS to my coworkers for help, I was informed it was actually a business called Doctors Now (thank you, Sonya!).  If there is anything you are unsure of when you hear it in a deposition or in the courtroom, ask the attorneys or the witness for help.  I make a note as I'm writing the testimony of anything I want to be sure and check at a break. Don't be embarrassed to ask - everyone involved wants you to get it right rather than wrong.”

“Never forget that at all times we should be impartial and fair to all involved in any proceeding we are asked to report.  One party to a lawsuit should not have any advantage over another due to any action on the part of the court reporter. For example, if you are asked by an attorney to prepare a rough draft in advance of the final transcript, all other parties involved should be informed that a rough has been ordered if they would like to purchase one.”

“Be selective on any suggestions you might feel you should make in terms of how the record is being made.  You may know that Attorney A is referring to "this" and "that" when looking at an exhibit and that the transcript will make no sense to someone reading it later, but Attorney B may, in fact, be well aware of this and is happy about the fact that the testimony will not be clear.  It's not the court reporter's place to get involved in this kind of a situation.”

We all agreed that practice, and more practice makes...nearly perfect. Practicing will pay off in the long run. When you’re hired for your first job, all those late nights with your steno machine will suddenly be worth it!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your instructors, a mentor, or classmates. This program is designed to support you as a court reporting student. Utilize the resources available!

You have a court reporter or stenographer in your life-lucky you! Hopefully this special court reporter is on your Christmas shopping list. We’re less than one month away from the holiday and while it’s not quite time for panic mode, it is time to start marking off your list! We searched far and wide for the best gifts for court reporters this holiday season. Just call us your Christmas Court Reporting Elves!

Court Reporter Travel Mug

There are more than a few coffee drinkers around the Susan Frye Court Reporting office, and I think that holds true for many court reporting agencies! This cute travel mug translates to, “How do you spell that?” Hopefully our coffee will power the answer!

Steno Machine Post-it Note Holder

Our steno machines top the list of our favorite desk item, but Post-it notes ring in as a close second.

Keep Calm and Brief It Keychain

The court reporter’s motto! We could use a reminder every now and then to stay cool under pressure.

Steno Machine Patent Print

As I said before, we love our steno machine, and we would even decorate our walls with it! This unique print showcases the patent that started the court reporting revolution. I might have one in my cart for my home office!

2019 Appointment Calendar

We can’t be the only ones who still love a good paper calendar, right? And if it’s this gorgeous, it doubles as desk art!

A Wine Glass

This gift is for after the office of course! We’re guilty of needing to “wine” down sometimes, and this is the perfect glass for it!

In a court reporting agency, one of our top priorities is seamless communication between our agency and law firms who utilize our services. We know that time is valuable, and waiting for transcripts, exhibits, even invoices can put a hold on legal proceedings. This is one of many reasons why RepAgencyWorks (RAW) is a great tool!

RAW is essential to our court reporters to stay organized, schedule appointments and track various jobs, but it can also be a great tool for any lawyer or firm who utilizes our services.

At any time, we can provide a specific login for a lawyer or team to view the transcripts, exhibits, and/or invoices that pertain to them.  Perhaps the best feature of RAW is the repository. All transcripts and exhibits are uploaded to the RAW repository and are available for viewing and downloading. Users simply need to find the corresponding date on the RAW calendar to locate these items.

We find this agency software extremely user friendly and have heard from our clients who utilize RAW that they enjoy the features as it saves them valuable time.  We are able to give support staff login credentials as well if access is useful to a lawyer’s team.

While we are more than happy to send documents by email, having access to RAW removes much of the back-and-forth communication and allows direct access to the documents you need with just a few clicks!

If you are interested in getting set up with RAW and learning more about how it works, please contact us. We look forward to setting your firm up with the software and helping you utilize this tool to streamline the deposition process even more!

Court reporting positions across the country sit vacant.  That’s not a secret. The National Court Reporters Association estimated 5,500 empty jobs in 2018.  As this shortage grows, it’s important to look at the schooling available for court reporting.

In Iowa, Newton’s DMACC campus offers a court reporting program that is thriving.  I have served on the advisory board since the inception of the program. This role includes evaluating the program and enrollment numbers, as well as giving my perspective as a tenured court reporting professional.  Dr. Patricia Ziegler is the program chair and a wonderful professor. She first taught court reporting at AIB and transitioned to DMACC’s program after a time in St. Louis.

As many of the Susan Frye Court Reporting staff will attest, the schooling for court reporting is flexible and can be completed at a rapid pace or fit into a busy schedule.  This is a two-year degree with a promising career outlook. The average annual salary is $62,000, and the career field is expected to grow by 14 percent by 2020. Job security!

In addition to serving on the advisory board, I mentor students each semester.  It’s beneficial to have someone in the career field to ask questions of, job shadow, and receive sage advice. This is a fun experience for me, and it’s rewarding to see the students grow throughout their schooling.  I’m there as a mentor to lend an ear or help them through a tough hurdle. After all, I’ve been in their shoes.

I will always be an advocate for court reporting as a career.  I can attest to the fulfilling nature of the field, and I believe many court reporters would echo my sentiments. The flexibility of the job, the varied opportunities, and the job security offer benefits that are difficult to find in other fields! If you are interested in DMACC’s Court Reporting program, head to their online catalog to learn more about the program, cost, scholarships, and how to apply.  Also, feel free to contact me directly by phone or email, 515-284-1972 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..