New to Scoping

[Maria Torres]

Hello Everyone,

I went to court reporting school and got my certificate back in 2007. At the time, I was working in an office and continued there eventually becoming the office manager. The money was good so I stayed with the company and did not pursue the court reporting field. After 5 years I am no longer with the company and I find myself wanting to scope. That was the part that I loved the most; getting the transcript completely ready for delivery. According to several court reporting agencies and court reporters themselves, I was very good at it. That's given me the confidence I need to pursue this field once more. I have all of my textbooks and materials from when I attended school. I know I will be a fast and realiable scopist to a reporter. All I need is a chance. I would appreciate any advice anyone can give me. Thank you! Maria

[Emily Erickson-Sandstrom]

I too am outside looking in on scoping.  The remarks about learning the software, and that training is available for it, inform me that this is not 'plug and play.'  The last year I court reported in this remote area I live in was '92.  At my court reporting office in south Florida, I trained beginning reporters and did a lot of technical work.  Seems Eclipse is considered superior. 

Can someone tell me how best to orchestrate this project?  Seems more intelligent to find someone to work for first, but without the equipment and without expertise on it ... hmmm ... there's a span of time there.

Any suggestions are appreciated. 

Emily

[Janiece Young]

Maria,

If you are interested in CC I am selling my edit key.  It is under maintenance and I will sell it so the license transfers to you.  It will be like you bought it from Stenograph but I will give you a better price than Stenograph.  Please contact me.  [phone] or [e-mail].

Good luck to you!!!

Janiece

[Lorraine Flood]

Hi - I am a scopist  from Vermont and I use Stenocat.  You might want to check them out.  It is Stenocat.com.  I've been with them for seven or eight years and they are great to work with.  You can use my name as a referrer.  Lorraine Flood.  Good luck. 

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I would talk to Stenograph about that.  I'm sure you could set up payments.  I know the new version, you don't need a key.  If you have the reporter version, just use that; you don't have to purchase the scopist/editing version.  You just need to update your software to the newest version to make it current.

[Maria Torres]

Thank you Kelli for your response. I do have Case Catalyst. I purchased it at the same time I purchased my machine. I understand there is a scoping/editing version of the software. What I have is the full version. I was ready to go out there and work as a reporter. I had completed the program and was in the process of getting certified. I had passed the written test and was waiting for the next test date. Life, however, had other plans for me.  Which is why I would like to do scoping work. As for the software, I will be looking to update it to the newest version. Would you know of any awards or grants that are out there to help offset this cost?   

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

You need to pick a software that you want to learn first.  I suggest one of the two most popular (that way you have the pick of more clients) and those are Case Catalyst by Stenograph and Eclipse by Advantage software.  Some scopists use both so they can work with everyone. 

Learning the software is the most difficult process I would think.  There is a lot to it.  I've been teaching one of my husband's ex-clients from scratch for two years.  She wasn't a scopist two years ago and I talked her into learning.   She is excellent now but it took quite a while.  I am the only one she scopes for, so I get my work back just the way I like it since I'm the only one that has shown her how to do it. 

The software comes with a guide that helps and you can do online classes too.  There are never enough really, really "GOOD" scopists out there.  I welcome more to come into the field.