Field Notes

Practical context from behind the legal record.

Clear explanations, operating lessons, and buyer guidance for court reporters, legal videographers, agencies, and the teams who rely on their work.

8 published notes · newest first

Software buyingAgency operationsSoftware strategyRealtimeCareer and ratesSoftware migrationCAT softwareRates and billing

Software buyingJun 20, 20263 min read

Eclipse vs. Case CATalyst: An Honest Breakdown for 2026

A source-backed comparison of Eclipse and Case CATalyst for 2026: current license prices, operating-system requirements, interchange, support, and workflow fit.

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Agency operations1 min read

What I Learned Running Technology at a Court Reporting Firm for 5 Years

First-person lessons from modernizing a 45-year-old court reporting firm: what breaks in the field, what reporters ask for, and how to ship without losing trust.

Read Software strategy3 min read

Why Court Reporting Software Changes Slowly: Continuity, Cost, and Tradeoffs

Why established CAT workflows change slowly, what continuity protects, where friction remains, and how reporters can evaluate the real cost of their software stack.

Read Realtime2 min read

Realtime Court Reporting: Equipment, Setup & Getting Started in 2026

A getting-started guide to realtime court reporting in 2026: the gear, the setup, prepping your dictionary, CART vs. deposition realtime, and why realtime pays a premium.

Read Career and rates3 min read

How Much Do Court Reporters Make in 2026? Freelance vs. Official vs. CART

Court reporter pay in 2026: how freelance, official, and CART earnings compare, why per-page and realtime work affect income, and what federal data can and cannot show.

Read Software migration2 min read

Switching CAT Software: A Reporter's Migration Checklist

Thinking about switching CAT software? How to export your dictionary and briefs, preserve your job formats, and migrate without losing work or missing a deadline.

Read CAT software2 min read

What Is CAT Software? A Plain-English Guide for New Court Reporters

CAT software explained simply: how steno becomes text, what your dictionary does, and what to look for in 2026.

Read Rates and billing3 min read

Court Reporter Per-Page Rates Explained: Originals, Copies & Expedites

How court reporter per-page rates work: what counts as a page, originals vs. copies, and how expedites and realtime can add to the total.

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