court. Many hours should be devoted to the practicing of taking down and transcribing testimony before venturing into court. Every legal phrase given in the text-book or phrase-book should be at your instant command. If you do not hear clearly what a witness says, ask the witness to repeat it. This is a privilege the reporter has, as it is absolutely essential that the report should be in effect a complete photograph of the proceedings. If such a complete picture is not obtained the blame lies with the reporter. Never put your own construction on what a witness said, but if he speaks indistinctly and you are not quite sure, have the testimony repeated. Insist, too, upon your seat being in such a position that you can hear clearly each witness. Practice reading every word that you write in shorthand so that when you are asked to read back any portion of the testimony you will be able to do so without the slightest hesitation or difficulty.
Make good sense of your transcript. Don't be like the Irish would-be reporter, who, when requested to read what a witness had said, hesitated a moment and then read "The first beam fell last," instead of the "first beam fell lowest."
HOW LONG?
As has already been stated, the reporter's position demands many years of persistent study and work
