Verbatim reporters cover a myriad of assignments in any setting where a transcript of the spoken word is required. Our Accredited Court Reporter (ACR) members work in areas ranging from American depositions, arbitrations, public inquiries, and regulatory health hearings.
Many of our ACRs also write realtime, which is when the spoken word appears as text on a device instantaneously. It is important to remember the purpose for which realtime transcription is used. In a hearing/tribunal setting, it enables the viewer:
- to see and/or mark immediately what was said;
- to search back simultaneously to cross-check against previous testimony (whether given on the same day or previously); and
- probably most importantly, to have instantly a full note of what was said and the context in which it was said, rather than the perhaps scanty notes made by others in the room.
While we are in many instances including the County in which our member resides, please remember, especially in these post-Covid days, that it is often a question of "have machine, will travel", or, indeed, "have pen will travel", so that if you do not find someone in your County, you should contact other members.

Ian Roberts
Subscriber, BIVR Member
About
After I spent some time working on a local newspaper in the 1980s, a friend pointed out an advert for trainee court reporters. Not understanding the role he said, “You’ve done that sort of thing. It’d be ideal”. My knowledge was no greater and I applied. Shortly afterwards – it took until the interview – I discovered my mistake and decided to give it a go anyway. Almost a quarter of a century later, I’m still here and have worked in civil, criminal and coroners’ courts on many high profile trials and inquests, the House of Lords, public inquiries and conferences in the UK. Further afield, I’ve been lucky enough to travel to mainland Europe and beyond for conferences, international arbitrations, World Bank hearings and sessions of the World Trade Organisation.
My new website Briaultreporting is currently under construction.
- Member
- American Depositions, Arbitrations, Court, Disciplinary Hearings/Regulatory Health, Public Inquiries, Realtime
- UK, EU, Worldwide