In this second episode of The Modern Court Reporter, you will hear from Court Petros, a brand-new court reporter and recent graduate of the Planet Institute mentorship program.
Court discusses how he got into court reporting as a second career, what the mentorship program brought him that court reporting school didn’t cover, and how he transitioned from student to professional.
Daniel Malgran: 0:13
Welcome back to The Modern Court Reporter podcast where we discuss all things court reporting. As always, I’m Dan Malgran,
Darlene Williams: 0:20
And I’m Darlene Williams.
Daniel Malgran: 0:22
In today’s episode, Darlene and I are pleased to be joined by Court Petros, a court reporter living in the Chicago-land area. Court became acquainted with Planet Depos when he applied to the Planet Institute mentoring program in 2018. After shadowing highly qualified reporters all around Chicago, Court decided he was ready for something more. In the summer of 2019 he headed to the Planet Depos headquarters in Rockville, Maryland, and participated in a month long internship program where he was able to gain real world experience as a court reporter. Upon returning to Chicago, Court dedicated much of his time practicing for the Illinois CSR and the NCRA RPR exams. As a member of the NCRA Student Teacher Committee Court will be presenting a seminar for students this year at the NCRA convention in Orlando, where he looks forward to meeting many of our listeners. Welcome Court. Thank you for joining us today.
Court Petros: 1:15
Thanks for having me, Dan. Happy to be here.
Daniel Malgran: 1:18
Absolutely. Darlene, why don’t you get it started with some questions for Court
Darlene Williams: 1:22
Welcome court. So can you begin by letting our listeners understand if this is your first career?
Court Petros: 1:30
Sure. So this is actually not my first career. I spent about 10 years working in the optical industry all around Chicago. I did anything from selling glasses to actually making the lenses that go into glasses to building insurance. So that was my first true career. Um, but I’m in love with my second career, for sure
Darlene Williams: 1:52
And what drew you to court reporting.
Court Petros: 1:55
So I actually did not know what a court reporter even was three months before I started school. So, um, through ah, family friend, I heard about court reporting, and I was really looking for something to go to school for. That was an exact skill set. So I had actually gone to school in Chicago at NorthPark University and received my That’s what his degree in psychology and I didn’t really want to go four more years of school for that. So I was really looking for something that was a skill set and that I could apply directly to career. So I heard about court reporting, and I was like, What the heck? Maybe I’ll just try it and it will work out. Luckily, it did, Um, I fell in love with it, so yes, I went to, uh, I started school in Chicago about three months after I heard about court reporting.
Darlene Williams: 2:44
That’s very interesting. And how long did it take you to get through school? And did you do an online program and in person program or both?
Court Petros: 2:52
Sure. So it took me about two years to get through school. I went to McCormack College in Chicago, which is a brick and mortar school, and I went to school about three hours every day, Monday through Thursday. And then I would spend roughly about three hours after class practicing at school, talking to class maids, encouraging each other to get through the rest of the program. Um,
Darlene Williams: 3:18
so how did you hear about the Planet Institute mentoring program?
Court Petros: 3:22
Sure. So I went to the N. C. R. A conference in 2018 and I met quite a few people that went to Planet that worked at plan to depose and also went to the planet Institute, so they had all good things to say. So when I got back to Chicago, I immediately connected with Planet Devils and applied for the Planet Institute, and it really took off from there.
Darlene Williams: 3:48
That’s terrific. How did your perception of what the program WAAS turn out to be? In reality?
Court Petros: 3:56
I received so much more out of the program than I even thought that I would. So one of the main reasons that I applied to the program was because I really needed help with proof reading transcripts and just learning how to create a transcript. I was at about 1 80 at my speed in school, and I had done internship just shadowing court reporters. But I didn’t have any real experience with someone looking at my transcripts and telling me you’re kind of on track or your way out in left field. So they so I really just needed some help with with learning how to make a transcript. What I did not realize that I was going to get out of it was shadowing court reporters all around Chicago. I got to shadow some of the best court reporters that are really time certified and are amazing and have every gadget under the sun, and they are true professionals in their career. And then I also got the shadow people who were recently out of the Planet Institute program or her who are new court reporters, and they were able to tell me all the things that they learned right when you enter the field and things that you don’t know. So I did not realize the huge network of people that I would be connected to just by shadowing people once or twice a week around the Chicago area
Darlene Williams: 5:18
when you were out there with those seasoned reporters. Is there a specific moment when you had, ah, light bulb go off and say, I think I hit the jackpot with this career?
Court Petros: 5:29
Oh, I think so. Um, what I loved I’ll be honest. What I loved was when I shadowed people and we would go out at 9 a.m. for a deposition, and then at 11 they would be like, Well, the day’s over, I’m gonna head home. It was like, That is pretty cool. I could get used to that. So that was That was one reason that I really loved it. I had done freelance work prior to going in to court reporting as well. And I realized that I love this schedule of being able Thio really move around and be versatile and be presented with new information every day. So that was one of my favorite things. Is just listening to the depositions, always learning about a new topic. And, um, yeah, I just really getting to experience new things every day. When you go out in the field.
Darlene Williams: 6:19
That’s awesome. So can you tell our listeners how you think that the mentoring program made you more prepared for this next step? Was there something in particular that, um, brought attention to things that maybe you had not had in school that were clearly critical to the production of Transcript?
Court Petros: 6:41
Yes, I had no idea how to create an index for a job. I had no idea how to create title pages. I didn’t know where byline should go or how to put a break in the transcript. So I really learned everything about how to compile a transcript. From the start to the end, I felt like when I was doing my internship in school, I was just trying to make it look somewhat professional. My transcripts and through Planet Planning Institute, I really learned how to create a transcript from start to end. And, um, really just make it look how it’s supposed to and then also with editing, I I just wasn’t sure how to edit transcripts. And, um, there was a lot that I just did it No. One planet dimples really just help me come full circle and learn everything to know about how to create a transcript.
Darlene Williams: 7:41
That’s awesome. So what our listeners probably are not aware of is that I was your mentor in the best institute program. And so, um, when you got your first transcript back from me with edits, what was that like for you? Was it where you scared? Were you afraid that something terrible had happened, or or was it truly more of a learning process?
Court Petros: 8:02
Shares all stir with you are the best mentor and prouder ever tab, But I need you. I will say I did have a minor heart attack when I got it back, because it’s an interesting relationship. When you’re sending work to someone for them to critique it, I usually sit down in most careers. You sit down every six months and you get critiqued. But it was very interesting to be consistently sending you work in order to get feedback about what you did wrong s o. But it was so helpful. And I realized that my mindset had to be This is going to help me so much to be a better court reporter, Improve my editing skills, improved my knowledge of how to create a transcript. Um, and I just all of your comments. I tried to stick them everywhere. I good in my head and remember, And I have documents with Darlene notes, but I know that. But it took a while for me to really solidify some of the comments you were making and remember them every time and keep those consistently correct throughout my transcripts. But just these months, I mean, I think it’s been what about six months that we worked together, at least Yes,
Darlene Williams: 9:20
it has been. And I have to tell you, you are an excellent student. Have excellent student. You’re so ready for this profession, and I’m so proud to see you start to launch out on your own. So this is wonderful. Ah, let’s see. Would you recommend the Planet Institute program to high speed students and are recent graduates? And why would you recommend it?
Court Petros: 9:42
I would definitely recommend it to all high speed students. I mean, I started at 1 80 I think that was a great place to start, because when I went out to shadow court reporters, my speed was it wasn’t quite there to keep up with the depositions, but it was close enough to have the confidence to say, OK, I I can do this in the foreseeable future. This isn’t now a two year goal. This is more of like a one year goal, and I can actually accomplish it. And the other reason that I think it’s so important to shadow as much as you possibly can is because you constantly learn from all these different court reporters, and it is invaluable knowledge. So, for instance, one thing that I didn’t know that I needed, but that I learned that I needed in the field was, um, Melanie’s. Santa uses a, um, a keyboard that connects to her computer, but she puts it, It’s a wireless keyboard and she puts it right on top of her machine. And then she doesn’t have to ever move her hands to her computer to make edits while she’s going in. The amount of time that saves later on when you’re working on a transcript is unbelievable. So there’s There are tools you learn in the field. There are ways that you learn to make a good transcript. There are ways you learn Thio. Check your work as you go and ways to program your software so that it can work with you. And when you’re shadowing court reporters, typically every planet DeFelice court reporter I’ve shadowed. They are more than happy to give you all the tips that they use in order to make their job happier, a little bit faster and spend less time working on their transcripts and more time going to depositions in actually taking down the record. So I would I would highly recommend it to any student because you have no idea what you don’t know.
Darlene Williams: 11:37
That’s an absolutely perfect line, absolutely perfect, because it’s so It’s so true that you don’t know what you don’t know when you come out of school and there’s so much to learn I wanna question you just a little bit about the technology side of things. Um, when you are in school, you’re given, ah, student software to work with. How did you find that transition from the students software to the professional software? Was it a huge learning curve? Do you feel like that aspect of this profession is really critical to meeting deadlines and being able to accomplish the goals?
Court Petros: 12:15
Yes. I feel that the software having complete knowledge of your software is much knowledge is you can is one of the most important things about being a court reporter. I was, um, when I started when I was in school, I took my tech. I took my software class when I was between 1 41 60 and I think that was a little bit too early, because by the time I was shadowing, I had lost a little bit of my knowledge and quick tips that I learned. So I definitely had to do Ah, self refresher course with that. But the software knowing your software is so important because it can make your life so much easier if you replace the words that you’re constantly mixing up in your transcripts or that you’re writing incorrectly. If you can get yourself where to work with you, then you won’t even realize some of the areas you’re making because you’ve already corrected them. Because, you know, you make those airs. They’re already correcting your transcript with your software. S o. I think having knowledge of your software is very, very important. Um, I was lucky enough to go to the star Conference, which they spend a lot of time teaching you all about your software case, Catalyst and eclipse. So they really helped me to learn how much I can use my software toe work with me to create a good transcript.
Darlene Williams: 13:38
That’s awesome. Now, one thing I know our listeners are not aware of is that court is a recent RPR a member. He just passed his RPR exam in January and congratulations. That is definitely a big step. And we’re very, very proud of you. Court.
Court Petros: 13:57
Thank you. Thank you. I am there.
Darlene Williams: 14:00
I’m sure the load off your mind.
Court Petros: 14:02
Yes, Yes. It is awesome to be done testing for now.
Darlene Williams: 14:08
Absolutely. Can you explain to our listeners the difference for you in in the fact that you work in Chicago, which is a license licensing state. Um, so between finishing your academic program and actually passing your RPR, um, was it was there a big gap there? And how did you stay current in the business while you were still in that that process? Because you clearly cannot work in that state without either an RPR or your Illinois CSR.
Darlene Williams: 14:38
So if you could just let our listeners know that transition for you, that would be good.
Court Petros: 14:42
Sure. So I was working on my RPR for about a year, and as you said, darling, yes, Illinois is a licensing state. So I really didn’t have many options about how to get in the court reporting field here unless I really wanted to work on production in a court reporting office. And I wasn’t crazy about working at, you know, a 9 to 5 job while I was trying to pass the RPR specifically because I practiced best in the morning and I really needed that eight to noon time frame to really practice and stay current and go for that, our PR. So I was working on jobs all around Chicago was driving uber. I was walking dogs. I was trying to do anything that I could. Well, I was trying it past this, our PR, and it was just not happening for me yet. So I realized I really need to get some real world experience in the field. So plain and temples throughout The crazy idea. I think in May of why don’t you just come to D. C. The Rockville, Maryland, office in June and come work for a month and 1/2. So somehow it all worked out jumped on a plane come June, and I spent six months working 66 weeks working in Maryland because they do not have licensing requirements in the Maryland D C area. And that was one of the most rewarding experiences and really paid off in the end, because I was able to get the confidence that I needed to see Oh, I can do this job and I definitely am worried the to get that our PR and and I also realized that I was at the speed that I needed to be. So within my first week of being in Rockville, I passed the literary component of the R p R. And then, um, I came home and worked on the testimony for a couple more months, but it really gave me that, um, drive to finish the RPR to get working because I then knew I could do the job. And then So when I came home from when I came home from Maryland, I did not want to go back to driving uber or walking those dogs. So I asked when a doubles again, can I Can I do something? You have anything for me? So luckily, they threw me on their transcription team, and I was able to, um, still get the proof reading experience with you, Darlene, and sent transcripts to U and s O. I would receive audio recordings. And then I would transcribe any proceedings that were sent to me in Chicago and then send them back to Maryland, and that really helped me stay up to date with my speed. Um, I was able to stay home practice in the morning, right? Transcripts in the evening and also get a lot of time on my writer just all day. So that was invaluable for me to be ableto spend all that time actually being a court reporter and actually being in the field.
Darlene Williams: 17:56
That’s awesome. So the day you got your RPR results, what was that like? Was there just a roller coaster of emotions, or was this just a really happy day in your house?
Court Petros: 18:06
It was disbelief. It took quite a few days to settle in, and I would see the one thing that I didn’t I did not realize was that I was constantly stressed about the RPR. Everywhere I went, I was thinking, OK, should I bring my machine? Because I need to get in my two hours of practicing today. There was not a weekend trip I could take without the RV are being in the back of my head. And that was for years. I mean, ever since I started school, I felt like I needed to have my writer attached to me at all times, and I just felt like I constantly needed to strive to hit that next speed. Hit that next goal. So to take a breath away from that for a second and realized okay, I achieved that. The first goal that I’ve set it’s done. Um, it was an amazing feeling
Darlene Williams: 18:56
That’s awesome. We’re so excited for you. Court. So, what advice do you have for students? You’re struggling to pass a speed test?
Court Petros: 19:04
Sure. So I would say the most important thing, I think for me was really creating a consistent practicing schedule, practicing at the same time, getting in the groove. Um, what I also would say is that I like practicing for 30 minutes where I could really, really focus and then take a 20 or 30 minute break. If you’re at home, I would go do the dishes or let the dog out, take a walk around the block and then get back to the 30 minutes of focus because that that test you’re working up to is five minutes of all your focus. So the longer you can get yourself to focus, um, the easier it will be when you sit down and take that five minute tests and just have nothing else going on in your mind. Besides you, your hands, the test, the dictation that’s coming into your ears and just right. So I think that the most important part is just learning how to focus and then just constantly setting goals for yourself. So I used real time coach at the end there when I was trying to get certified, and I would I would practice the same dictation over and over again. It a little bit higher of speed than I was comfortable with, but I would continue to practice until I could really solidify. So I was working for 2 25 with the testimony side work at a dictation speed of 2 40 just get that down. And then once I knew my hands could move it to 40. Then you realize, oh, off course, I should be able to rate to 25. So I think it’s just pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone with your speed and then forcing yourself to really hone in and focus.
Darlene Williams: 20:47
That’s awesome. So core what else is going on in your life other than court reporting
Court Petros: 20:52
other than court reporting? All right, well, I’m trying to plan a trip to Austin before, um well, it’s so while I’m waiting for my certification. So, Illinois, once you pass the RPR, um, they honor the RPR, but it takes, they say, 6 to 8 weeks for the certification process to be complete. and free to actually get your license in hand. So I’m trying to plan a few trips before I hit the ground running with court reporting. Ah, and I have a one year old dog. So she’s crazy. I’m always walking her. I’m enjoying taking long walks with her right now. Um, and yeah, and I have a new nephew in Nashville, so we’re going to get to Nashville as well. So a little bit of traveling before things get busier.
Darlene Williams: 21:38
Good for you. That’s awesome. Well, court, I want to thank you for taking some time out of your day to talk with us today in our listeners. And And we’re very excited for your career. We know that you’re going to just go out there and break all kinds of barriers, and we will. Ah, we would love to reach back out to you in a little while and get an update on how things going and see where we go from there. So thanks again for joining us today.
Court Petros: 22:00
All right. Thanks for having me. It was great talking with you, darling.
Darlene Williams: 22:04
Thanks, Court.
Daniel Malgran: 22:05
And that’s all the time we have for today. Thank you so much for joining us, Court. I echo darling sentiments and thank you listeners for joining us today. We look forward to seeing you the next time on The Modern Court Reporter.
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