Job Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth  - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion  - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits  - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (“FJD”) is the Philadelphia County Court System and is composed of two courts: the Court of Common Pleas and the Municipal Court. The mission of the FJD is to adjudicate cases and provide services to the community within our jurisdiction while ensuring fair, timely, and accessible justice to the people of Philadelphia. The FJD is part of the Unified Judicial System reporting in to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Job Description

Position Summary

This is a full-time in-person position requiring work directly with court personnel, and judges in the Philadelphia Courts.

An official court reporter in the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania records proceedings in court trials, hearings, and conferences using a stenotype machine. The official court reporter is responsible for accurately transcribing all court proceedings stenographically recorded in a high-volume, fast-paced, technical environment. Work requires precise accuracy because the transcripts represent the official record of court.

Essential Functions

The following duties are normal for this position. They are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be assigned and required.

• Records testimony in various types of courtroom proceedings verbatim using a stenotype machine or computer-aided transcription machine.
• Reads back portions of transcript during trial as requested.
• Edits, proofreads, and produces certified written and electronic verbatim transcripts.
• Responds to inquiries and correspondence from judiciary, attorneys, coworkers and the general public.
• Performs administrative duties as required, such as billing for transcripts, completing record-keeping forms, documenting information contained in reports and maintaining records according to statutory requirements.
• Purchase and maintain all equipment and software.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Considerable knowledge of English language, proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax and sentence structure.
• Considerable knowledge of office management, record-keeping procedures, legal terminology and medical terminology
• Ability to focus attention for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to work well under pressure and produce transcripts with strict time limitations with minimal supervision.
• Ability to learn within a short period of time courtroom procedures, practices and policies as applicable to the court reporter s assigned function.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with the judiciary, fellow employees, attorneys and the general public.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the First Judicial District of PA will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Qualifications

1. High school diploma or equivalent.
2. Graduate from an accredited court reporting school.
3. Ability to take verbatim dictation at prescribed rates of speed within specific limits of accuracy in accordance with standards established by the First Judicial District.
4. Satisfactory clearance of a criminal background investigation
5. Must work in person (not remote).

Additional Information

TO APPLY:   Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary Range: $65,380

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation : City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website:

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