Realtime Isn’t What You Think: What Students Need to Know Before Their First Job

“Someone can see my writing!” “What if I make mistakes?” “I’m not ready for someone to read what’s on my screen.”

If those thoughts make you nervous about realtime, this session is for you. Before you decide you’re not ready, let’s look at what you believe you have to produce—and how that compares with the work itself.

Join Tom Fernicola, a working realtime court reporter with 37 years of experience and the author of three steno books, for a practical conversation about what students need to understand before their first job. We’ll discuss why providing realtime is important, what attorneys expect from it, and the worries students have about letting someone else see their writing. What you learn may change how you see your own readiness.

• Why is providing realtime important, and what do attorneys expect from it?
• How do I know when I’m ready for someone to see my writing?
• What happens when someone sees a mistake or a word doesn’t translate?
• What should I expect on my first realtime job?
• What should you focus on while the testimony continues?

Saturday, November 14, 2026 · 1:00–1:45 p.m. Eastern / 10:00–10:45 a.m. Pacific

$59 per person. Includes 30 minutes of teaching, 15 minutes of questions, and replay access for 30 days. No steno machine or CAT software needed.

Your Zoom joining link will be emailed before the session to the email address you provide at checkout. The replay will be emailed within 24 hours after the session.

A minimum of 10 paid registrations is required by November 7, 2026, at 1 p.m. Eastern. If the minimum is not reached, the session will be canceled and all registrations refunded in full.

The session will be recorded. You may keep your camera off and submit a question to be discussed without using your name.