What is the employment status of freelance court reporters?

Freelance court reporters typically operate as self-employed professionals or are affiliated with court reporting firms. This status allows them the flexibility to work on various assignments, which can include private depositions, legal hearings, and other legal proceedings. Being self-employed means they have the autonomy to choose their clients and set their own schedules, which is a defining characteristic of freelance work.

While some freelance court reporters may occasionally be contracted by government entities or work on specific cases for courts, this does not limit their overall employment status to working only for government entities. Additionally, there is no guarantee of state employment for these professionals, as freelance reporters often work independently rather than being employed directly by a state or government organization.

Lastly, while there may be unions that freelance reporters can choose to join for collective bargaining and support, membership in a union is not a requirement for all freelance court reporters. This further reinforces that the primary employment status of freelance court reporters is indeed self-employment or working through court reporting firms.