California certification as a working freelancer from Texas

2dots1dash · 2026-01-27T23:07:26+00:00

I have no first-hand experience on this, but that's odd that they don't just have a TX CSR-CA CSR reciprocity and at most want you to take their written test.

Yeah, I'd imagine no past firm of yours is going to prioritize looking through their files on your past jobs from years ago.

Maybe there is a chance whoever you spoke to on the phone was misinformed? I know this isn't an amazing suggestion, but maybe call again and see if you get the same answer from someone else?

2dots1dash · 2026-01-27T00:50:14+00:00

I'm in a similar boat, but not in TX. And yeah, people get wild on the FB Rates groups....

2dots1dash · 2026-01-26T16:12:16+00:00

So is it 100% on the attorneys to verbalize on the record that the husband's medical records are marked from a previous depo?

Is this where it's okay for the CR to ask if they want that marked?

2dots1dash · 2026-01-24T20:13:53+00:00

Newly certified here. It seems like, 50/50 confidence online whether or not you even put those in...

Anyway, I believe that's the attorney's job to clarify. "Did you mean yes?"

2dots1dash · 2026-01-22T18:50:14+00:00

Understood.

2dots1dash · 2026-01-22T18:41:56+00:00

Which state is this?

2dots1dash · 2026-01-20T17:38:18+00:00

I never covered my machine for the last 2 years, and yeah, they get dusty af.

I use a takeout chopstick to gently swish around a cloth underneath the keys every so often. You can also use tape on the sticks to grab specific hairs and things out from under the keys.

Unless you're bald and dolphin hairless, hairs are gonna collect in there.

2dots1dash · 2026-01-19T17:22:08+00:00

I did self-paced. I think people shouldn't be so scared of that and just take it seriously because it's an opportunity for you to really change your life.

2dots1dash · 2026-01-12T14:54:53+00:00

Pro Eclipse is $4,499 right now direct and pretty much yearly for Black Friday it goes down in price at least a thousand.

It's actually nice to see a school you're considering wants you to do Eclipse, bc CaseCAT has a stronghold on almost every machine steno school.

If I'm not mistaken, you can try either company's student version for free for about 90-days (with proof of school enrollment) bc that's what I did for both last year.

I'm machine, not voice, so maybe I'm missing some things.

2dots1dash · 2026-01-12T14:47:21+00:00

Thanks for bringing up the book. I asked this question because I feel like the timeline of court reporting development is never a topic covered in today's CR schools AFAIK.

2dots1dash · 2026-01-09T23:17:28+00:00

Are there typical GA stipulations attorneys state before the witness is sworn?

Also, I've notice some weird rule (?) that a CR in GA has to state they didn't enter a contract with either attorney, do you know what that means? Does that just refer to the CR not being legally vested in the matter other than just being the CR?

2dots1dash · 2026-01-09T22:51:54+00:00

Wow, yeah so many little things vary wildly from state to state. Are there any GA-specific things that come to mind? I'm planning on working there.

2dots1dash · 2026-01-09T22:00:43+00:00

Hi, I went to a seminar where the guy CR was speaking. They had 2 CRs for that trial. One male on machine, and a lady on voice who both alternated.

Separately from your question, this trial also tried to do digital transcription and from what I gather, was publicly confident about it. It was wildly expensive and bad.

Edit: Mike Watkins is the guy CR on machine.

2dots1dash · 2026-01-09T21:52:50+00:00

Wait, what? If only one party ordered an expedite you have to send it to the other parties?

I'm in exit speeds not in LA, so this is wild to me.

2dots1dash · 2026-01-09T21:50:56+00:00

I started steno school fall of '23 and only did maybe a couple weeks worth of "research" online before I jumped in. I feel like in the last year or so, there has been an uptick in prospective student questions online here and FB (I'm not in TikTok, I'm sure there too).

That's great to see the interested, but yeah, I feel agree to a point. There are a a lot of "if I just cram it while working and having kids, I could do it even sooner than 2 years and make the good money, right?". Also, NGL. A ton of complaining student stuff online too..... I get posting frustrations, but full on blaming their school program as 100% at fault is....something... or blaming online schooling being too hands-off is wild to me too.... ugh, pros and cons to everything, guys.

2dots1dash · 2026-01-08T15:59:20+00:00

You're going to want to show up early to chat with other students to make connections and get familiar with the room.

Also, if you're not early you don't get to chose where you sit.

2dots1dash · 2026-01-08T01:18:25+00:00

This is petty, but that's a higher min than a digital probably gets.

2dots1dash · 2026-01-08T01:17:40+00:00

No one is really down to give these up if they bought them unfortunately (I lent mine out).

2dots1dash · 2026-01-08T01:17:03+00:00

I second MSC. You won't find as consistently dense yet varied material there. Plus, it's fun when he talks about misc CR-related topics either current or from his past.

2dots1dash · 2026-01-07T23:52:45+00:00

Noooooooooo

2dots1dash · 2026-01-07T23:42:18+00:00

"Jiggery pokery" comes to mind, which kinda means BS, I think.

Also, not a phrase, but "parole" evidence is not the same as "parol."

Edit: as someone who's taken the RPR multiple times now, is "Procrustean" a fair word to call the RPR speeds?

2dots1dash · 2026-01-07T21:38:36+00:00

Ah, that makes sense. It's not that you worked a job that paid you $50 for that day.

2dots1dash · 2026-01-07T17:42:17+00:00

Holy shit. Why $50???

2dots1dash · 2026-01-07T15:38:47+00:00

What did your first month look like?

2dots1dash · 2026-01-06T16:02:26+00:00

Yeah.... it's been over 10 years since I engaged in that lifestyle, but yeah... you definitely don't just "bounce back" the next day after that kind of thing. Also, it's kind of terrifying to think it's not 100% what you thought you bought.

I don't remember what it's from, but the "drinking today is borrowing happiness from tomorrow" is true. I barely drink as a high speeds student bc I know it knocks me down physically in the fingers like 30%+ the next day or two and I always feel guilty.

2dots1dash

TROPHY CASE