From a part-time transcriber gig for pocket change to board president of one of the most important trade associations in court reporting, Susan LaPooh has had a front-row seat to the industry’s transformation, from navigating the challenges of workforce shortages to seeing the rise of technological advancements and appreciating the ever-growing demand for accurate legal records. As board president of the American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers, Susan now plays a key role in shaping policies, advocating for the profession, and ensuring the next generation of court reporters is prepared.

We recently sat down with Susan to get her insights on the current state of the industry, the challenges ahead, and what needs to happen to strengthen and modernize the court reporting profession.

Susan LaPooh

Q: You’ve been involved in transcription and court reporting for nearly 30 years, what changes have had the biggest impact on court reporting?

A: It wasn’t that long ago, but people may forget how much we have evolved. For example, when I started transcribing, I used to drive 45 minutes to pick up cassette tapes, drive them back to my home, put them into my dictaphone,  transcribe them, then drive 45 minutes again to return the tapes and hard copy transcripts. Everything was typed from scratch – sometimes with carbon copies!

The first big change in how we worked was when we got dial-up internet and could download audio and upload transcripts and using word processing programs to create the transcripts instead of using a typewriter.

Significant change started around 2017 when  the shortage of court stenographers started to impact the deposition marketplace. Court reporting companies understood the necessity to add resources to meet the ever-increasing demand for coverage and maintain access to justice for citizens.

During Covid, everyone had to learn to embrace technology even more.  This sped up the realization that more innovative solutions would help address the court reporter shortage. During this time, videoconferencing took center stage, proving remote proceedings could be both practical and efficient. New platforms for legal matters emerged, and the use of ASR tools surged.

Q: What do you see as unique challenges in court reporting today?

A: The challenge is twofold. The first challenge is in attracting people to the industry in all formats of court reporting and holding all who enter the field to high professional standards.  The second is, embracing technology.  All court reporters use software, all court reporters use backup audio, all court reporters need to also embrace change and use innovation to their benefit.

Really it’s all about change management. We don’t see too many shorthand penwriters anymore, right? Stenographers aren’t taking paper notes anymore, digital reporters are not using cassettes or mini cassettes to record audio anymore, thankfully transcribers are no longer using carbon paper for copies of transcripts.  Instead we have software, electronic transfers, advanced audio capture and ASR (automatic speech recognition).  The industry will keep seeking new ways to innovate, and reporters must embrace these advancements. At the same time, they must remain the guardians of the record—maintaining neutrality and ensuring the integrity of every proceeding.

There is a real concern that if certified professional officers of the court (court reporters) don’t evolve and embrace technology, the HI (human intelligence) will be replaced with the AI (artificial intelligence).  I believe that we can judiciously use AI and other transcription tools to augment the HI, but there must always be a certified, professional court reporter in the room protecting the record.

Q: Can technology be the answer to the court reporter shortage problem?

A: Some people worry that technology will replace court reporters, but that’s simply not true. Stenographers won’t lose their jobs, nor will voice writers or digital reporters. However, court reporting is evolving—just as it has for over a century. I believe the way they do their job will change. Reporters should always be the impartial presence that takes down every word to create a verbatim, certified transcript. That core responsibility should never go away, but the tools and processes we use should continue to improve and advance.

By using new tools wisely, reporters can ease the shortage, boost their efficiency, and improve their bottom line. Many stenographers currently work 60 to 70 hours a week just to earn a decent living, or they pay for a scopist and proofreader out of their own earnings. If technology enables reporters to earn the same income in fewer hours, it will help prevent burnout and repetitive strain injuries, extend careers, and promote a healthier work-life balance

Technology should be used as a tool to augment the professionalism of the trained, certified reporter who has a great passion for justice and recognizes the importance of their work.

Q: The court reporting industry has seen tremendous change over the past few decades—from the transition to digital reporting and remote proceedings to the integration of new technologies. Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities for the profession?

A: The court reporting industry has always evolved alongside new technology offerings, and the pace of change is only accelerating.

In the last eight years, we’ve seen a massive shift—digital reporting becoming more widely accepted, remote proceedings becoming the norm, and now, the integration of AI into the legal field.

The biggest challenge ahead is managing this transition while ensuring we add qualified professionals to the field, especially with the looming retirement of a large portion of the stenographic community, and that the value of the impartial officer of the court role continues to be understood for its necessity.  There’s still a lot of misinformation out there, particularly from those who fear change. Some worry that digital reporting or ASR will replace traditional roles, but the reality is that court reporting isn’t going away or becoming less than by embracing digital reporting—it’s evolving. Technology has always been part of the job, whether it was the steno machine, digital audio recording, or now ASR-driven transcription tools. The key is making sure professionals adapt, stay informed, and advocate for high standards in the industry.

Q: With challenges come opportunities. What are those?

A: The biggest opportunity is the demand.  There are more people retiring from court reporting than entering the field in all three methods combined.  Becoming a stenographer, voicewriter or digital reporter is a great opportunity right now!  . Digital reporting can offer a quicker path to enter the field, while stenography remains a specialized path that’s still in high demand. Both approaches have their strengths and serve important roles in the court reporting profession. But no matter how the tools change, the core of this job remains the same—you need human intelligence, professionalism, and a deep understanding of the importance of the record. Those who embrace change, keep learning, and remain committed to accuracy and integrity will always be in demand.