Some court reporters might be fighting against the digitization of their profession, but low court reporter graduation rates are also a major threat to their industry.

According to a 2019 article from The Wall Street Journal, the National Court Reporters Association estimated roughly 80-85% of students enrolled in a court reporter program drop out. But while that statistic is concerning, a legal transcription career is still feasible for non-stenographers. Indeed, evolving attitudes toward transcribing previously recorded proceedings are creating more legal transcription opportunities in court reporter agencies, legal tech companies and the court system.

The emergence of digital court reporting has created a viable path for those who decided not to become a stenographer, noted Cuyahoga Community College's captioning and court reporting program director Kelly Moranz.