Freelance court and discovery reporter

Law firms, insurers, arbitrators, tribunals and agencies that book reporters for out-of-court proceedings.

A set fee per attendance (often per half or full day), plus a per-page charge for transcripts and extra copies. Work comes mostly from repeat bookings by law offices.

• Fast, accurate stenography
• Strong spelling, grammar and legal vocabulary
• Focus during long sessions
• Discretion with confidential matters

• Rules differ by province: check whether you need certification or registration to report or certify transcripts
• Courtroom reporting is often done by government-employed or contracted staff, so check which work is open to freelancers
• Commercial general liability insurance, and possibly errors and omissions cover, are worth checking
• Confidentiality and privacy obligations for sealed or sensitive matters
• Training can take two years or more and tuition is a major cost, so plan your income and funding during that period
• Income can be uneven until you have regular clients

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $40,000, depending on your equipment and training tuition. Monthly revenue is estimated at roughly $2,000 to $8,000, depending on how regular your clients are.

Check whether your province requires certification or registration to report or certify transcripts, and which work is open to freelancers, since courtroom reporting is often done by government-employed or contracted staff. Also check confidentiality obligations and insurance such as commercial general liability and errors and omissions.

Training can take two years or more, and tuition is a major cost, so plan your income and funding during that period. Once working, estimates suggest at least 15 hours a week, with uneven income until you have regular clients.