Boston Court Reporters
The stenographer shortage is real, it’s accelerating, and most attorneys don’t know about it. The firms that adapt now won’t be scrambling for a reporter the morning of a deposition.
Schedule a DepositionThe Shift Is Underway
Boston Court Reporters has been the pioneer of digital court reporting in Massachusetts since 2007 — nearly two decades before “digital reporting” became an industry talking point. Here’s why it matters for your practice.
Source: Court Reporting Industry Survey, 2022 — National Court Reporters Association
A Reliability Risk You Can’t Ignore
The court reporting industry is facing a workforce crisis, and the numbers are stark.
The median age of a working stenographer is 51. Many are older than 65 and approaching retirement with no clear replacements in the pipeline.
Stenography schools and enrollment have been declining for years. The training pipeline cannot keep pace with attrition.
39% of legal schedulers say they frequently have a hard time covering depositions with stenographers. This is happening now, in depositions scheduled this month.
BCR’s digital reporters have an average age of 37. That’s a sustainable team with the technical fluency to handle hybrid and remote proceedings.
How It Works
A digital court reporter uses professional-grade recording equipment to capture clear audio while simultaneously typing detailed log notes in real time.
They monitor audio quality throughout the proceeding, manage exhibits, track speaker identification, and flag unclear speech — all while running backup recording systems as a fail-safe.
After the deposition, the reporter reviews all recordings and notes in detail before delivering a complete file package to the transcription team.
The final transcript is identical to a stenographic transcript — same format, same accuracy standards, same delivery options (PDF, condensed page, E-tran/ASCII, or hard copy). BCR’s process adheres to both AAERT (American Association of Electronic Reporters and Transcribers) and NCRA (National Court Reporters Association) standards.
The difference isn’t in the transcript. It’s in what happens during the deposition — and what you can do with the recording afterward.
Side by Side
| Feature | BCR Digital | Traditional Steno |
|---|---|---|
| Transcript accuracy | ✓ 98%+ certified | ✓ High |
| Availability / coverage | ✓ Consistent — young, tech-native team | ⚠ Increasingly difficult to staff |
| Audio recording provided | ✓ Yes — Rough Audio Synch available | ✗ No audio record |
| Video sync | ✓ Rough Video Synch (Zoom proceedings) | ✗ Not available |
| Playback for impeachment | ✓ Yes — witness’s own voice | ✗ Text read-back only |
| Backup recording system | ✓ Always running | ✗ Not standard |
| Published rates | ✓ Fully transparent — no call required | ⚠ Usually call for quote |
| Workforce sustainability | ✓ Average reporter age: 37 | ⚠ Average age: 51+ |
The Decisive Advantage
When a witness’s testimony is disputed, a stenographic ‘read-back’ gives you the words. That’s it — flat text, in the reporter’s voice. Play-back gives you the actual testimony.
The deponent’s own voice, tone, pace, and emotion. This means:
In cross-examination prep, impeachment strategy, or trial presentation, how something was said is as important as what was said.
A flat transcript can’t tell you whether a witness was rattled. A recording can.
BCR’s audio and video sync means you can present that testimony — in the deponent’s own voice — directly to a jury.
Industry Data
71% of attorneys and schedulers report a mostly positive or neutral reaction when digital reporting is used — even among those who initially preferred stenography.
Court Reporting Industry Survey, 2022BCR has been doing this since 2007. Attorneys who work with us once typically don’t go back. The transcript quality is the same. The availability is better. And the recordings are something stenography simply cannot offer.
No Guessing, No Calls Required
Most court reporting firms require you to call for a quote. BCR publishes its rates. That’s deliberate. If your rates are competitive and your quality is high, there’s no reason to obscure them.
Review our full rate sheets for depositions, arbitrations, and hearings — no inquiry required. Flat per-page and per-hour pricing with no hidden fees.
View Rate SheetsDownload sample transcripts and see the format and quality before you commit. No firm in the Massachusetts market does both.
View Sample TranscriptsBCR has been doing this longer than anyone in Massachusetts. Eighteen years, hundreds of firms, and a transcript record that speaks for itself. Schedule your next deposition with us — or call with questions.
Statistics sourced from the Court Reporting Industry Survey, 2022 and the 2025 Trends in Court Reporting report, as cited by the National Court Reporters Association and industry research. You may review the full reports under Resources.
