COURT REPORTER

Position Overview

Records, at a high rate of speed, verbatim testimony given in Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) hearings, court proceedings or administrative review functions; prepares and certifies transcriptions of testimony for inclusion in the records; furnishes copies of transcriptions to Commission parties upon request; reports proceeding of special boards, committees and commissions as assigned; prepares and keeps all transcripts of proceedings accessible at any time for the duration required under the law; travels as necessary to meet operational needs.

Essential Functions

• Attends court hearings and depositions, maintaining professionalism and neutrality throughout the proceedings.
• • Records verbatim testimony including the questions, answers, and objections of speakers at Commission hearings, court proceedings, appealed cases and review and advisory board meetings in connection with application of laws and regulations of the ICC.
  • Complies with all applicable statues, administrative orders, court rules, and regulations.
• Prepares and certifies complete transcriptions of evidence and testimony taken for inclusion in legal filings and records in a timely manner.
  • Provides copies upon request to all parties involved.
• Transcribes stenographic notes via computer-aided transcription (CAT) for completion of a transcript of court proceedings, recorded material on a computer, or assigns notes to others for transcribing.
• Inserts supplemental material at proper appropriate places in transcript in accordance with notations made in the records of proceedings. 
  • Keeps a monthly report of all transcripts on order and files original reports as directed.
• Reads entire proceedings to attorneys from notes when transcript is not requested.
  • Keeps a daily log of all cases reported and transcribed and enters all information as electronic records. 
• Emails transcripts, faxes documents, prepares mailings and filings of case-related electronic and paper records.
  • Receives and responds to telephone inquiries, mail, email, or other correspondence regarding case information
  • Exchanges information with appropriate jurisdictions and parties.
  • Travels to hearing sites throughout the state as operational need dictate.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four years of high school, supplemented by graduation from a recognized school or program of court reporting with courses in steno-typing stenography, legal and medical vocabulary and legal procedures.
• Requires possession of a valid Illinois Certificate of Registration as a certified certificate as a shorthand reporter issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefers thorough knowledge of the techniques necessary in performing stenographic duties of recording steno-typing or other methods of taking verbatim testimony at a high rate of speed with extreme accuracy.
• Prefers knowledge of business English and spelling, with the vocabulary necessary in recording testimony involving technical, medical and legal terms.
• Prefers working knowledge of legal procedures and the preparation and use of court records.
• Prefers working knowledge of office procedures, composition, records management and office communications.
• Prefers skill in the development of total recall necessary to recording dictation at a high rate of speed with extreme accuracy.
• Prefers skill in the use of personal computer and applications (i.e. word processing, spread sheet or database).
• Prefers skill to print a transcript in a hard format, compressed format with word indices and also email a digital format when requested.
• Prefers ability to prepare accurate and complete transcripts of testimony.
• Prefers ability to estimate and budget for future needs and cost of equipment and supplies.
• Prefers ability to verify working order of stenographic equipment and perform routine maintenance; directs and requisitions the procurement and maintenance of office equipment and supplies.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires completion of a background check.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. 
• Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license.
• Requires ability to attend seminars, conferences, and trainings to stay current on methods, tools, ideologies, or other industry related topics relevant to the job duties.
• Requires ability to utilize the English language in the performance of all duties.
• Requires ability to follow proper courtroom etiquette including, but not limited to, impartiality to parties and appropriate demeanor and dress as specified by the regulations and local rules.
• Requires ability to sit for extended time periods.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.